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Press your luck video game

Ubisoft Ships Press Your Luck Videogame
Big bucks, no whammies.
<A HREF="http://de.ign.com/event.ng/Type%3dclick%26FlightID%3d134181%26AdID%3d148384%26TargetID%3d7367%26Targets%3d23233,6556,7367,7012,6781,6505,18399,22842,6918,19866,7143,7085,10619,13523,22977,23219%26Values%3d34,46,51,85,90,100,110,150,225,227,235,236,268,461,839,1503,1594,1818,2683,2684,2721,2889,3173,3932,4295,4799,6612,6744,8052,8140,59609%26RawValues%3d%26Redirect%3dhttp://coptherecruit.us.ubi.com/" target="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://ads.ign.com/advertisers/ubisoft/cop/Cop_300x250_Backup.jpg" WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=250 BORDER=0></A> By Saudi Ali, Friday 6.11.2009

November 5, 2009 - SAN FRANCISCO - Ubisoft today announced the official launch of Press Your Luck 2010 Edition. Currently available for the Nintendo Wii system, the Nintendo DS system and Windows-based PC, Press Your Luck 2010 Edition features single- or multiplayer modes so that more people can get in on the fun and play together. Additionally, the game allows players to design and customize their own personal avatar. The game has been created by Ludia and is licensed by FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME).

Press Your Luck is a true-to-life revival of the famous game show from the 80's rendered with a dynamic new design. Players assume the role of one of the three contestants competing to win by answering a series of trivia questions correctly, to earn "spins" on the Big Board of cash and prizes. All of the elements of the original TV game show, including thousands of general knowledge trivia questions to challenge players, are included, as well as animations of the memorably mischievous Whammy character to punctuate the game. Whichever player ends the game with the highest earnings wins, while successfully avoiding the dreaded Whammy or risk losing it all. Additionally, there are a host of special unlockable items to reward players for progress in the game.

Consumers can play mini-games that replicate the game show experience, as well as enter for chances at real prizes at the Press Your Luck 2010 Edition website at www.gameshowvideogames.com, which also include The Price is Right and Family Feud.

About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft is present in 28 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2008–09 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of 1.058 billion euros. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

About Ludia Inc.
Ludia creates and distributes cross-platform interactive entertainment with mass consumer appeal. Located in Montreal and founded by experienced industry players, Ludia's innovative and high-quality product portfolio consists of original and branded properties including American Idol, The Bachelor & The Bachelorette, Family Feud, Hell's Kitchen, Press Your Luck, The Amazing Race, The Price Is Right and Where's Waldo?.
www.ludia.com

About FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment. It is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is a subsidiary of RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is 90% owned by Bertelsmann AG, an integrated media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the world's media markets. For further information, visit http://www.fremantlemedia.com.

About FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA
FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "Let's Dance" (ABC), "Can You Duet" (CMT), "The Chilli Project" (MTV), "Secret Girlfriend" (Comedy Central), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS), "Family Feud" (syndicated), "Million Dollar Password" (CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, "The Price Is Right" (CBS).

About "PRESS YOUR LUCK"
First broadcast in 1983, Press Your Luck became a classic TV game show where contestants collected "spins" by answering trivia questions and then used the spins on an 18-space game board full of cash and prizes. It featured the animated Whammy character that included celebrity Whammies (Michael Jackson, Boy George and Tina Turner) as well as seasonal, sport Whammies and many more!

New videogame : Modern Warfare 2

By Saudi Ali

Blowing away terrorists, apparently, never gets old.
The new videogame Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, set to hit stores Tuesday, is a sequel spawned by sequels. But rather than following the frequent pattern of franchises fading as they age, Modern Warfare 2 is the most highly anticipated game of the season.

"It's the biggest launch in our history, bigger than Halo 3," said Tony Bartel, merchandising and marketing chief for videogame retailer GameStop, which has been taking pre-orders since April.
The manufacturer, Activision Blizzard Inc., has been advertising the first-person shooter game since March. Wal-Mart and Amazon are offering special deals. Analysts say rivals have postponed the release of other big games to steer clear of Call of Duty, although the companies won't admit it. Hopes are high that its sales will provide a much-needed boost to the whole industry.
The first three Call of Duty games, beginning in 2003, took place during World War II. They were well-received but didn't stand out. But two years ago, when the setting was changed to current times, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare took off, selling six million units in its first quarter of sales, according to Wedbush Morgan. This week's sequel could double that, says analyst Michael Pachter.
The original Modern Warfare was like an action movie, and followed the story of Russian ultranationalists who are trying to trigger a global war. Players took on different roles throughout the game, such as an American or British soldier. In one gritty surprise, a character that players played for part of the game is killed.
"We constantly want you to never have a moment to sit back and do something for the sake of doing it," said Robert Bowling, creative strategist at Infinity Ward, the game's developer. "You never know what to expect next."
Details are under wraps, but Infinity Ward says it has loaded its latest game with new experiences, including new weapons, battlegrounds and a special ops feature that allows two-player cooperative play. A recent trailer revealed that part of a battle against the terrorists would take place in Washington, D.C. A separate sequence takes the players through a civilian slaughter scene.
Write to Saudi Ali at saudimohdali@gmail.com

Gwen Stefani in Band Hero avatar argument

Ain't No Doubt about it

By Saudi Ali • Get more from this author

6th November 2009 16:19 GMT

US ska-pop band No Doubt - best know for its 1996 hit Don't Speak - has become the latest group to throw a hissy fit over the use of its lead singer’s likeness in a videogame.
The band agreed to lead singer Gwen Stefani’s likeness being used alongside three No Doubt songs included in Activision's videogame Band Hero, but they now object to gamers being able to ‘play’ Stefani alongside songs from other bands.
No Doubt has allegedly accused Activision of a breach of contract. Activision has said it “believes it is within its legal rights with respect to the use and portrayal of the band”, according to a report by the BBC.
The case smacks of a similar argument between Activision and early 1990s grunge rockers Nirvana.
Just last month the band’s surviving members – among them Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl – protested that gamers should only be able to use Kurt Cobain’s likeness to play Nirvana songs in Guitar Hero 5.
It is believed No Doubt is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction preventing Activision from distributing the game. ®