Aliens vs Predator demo is live

SEGA will today (Thursday) simultaneously release a multiplayer demo of Aliens vs Predator, for the PS3 (via PSN), Xbox 360 (via Xbox LIVE) and PC (via Steam).

The first-person shooter demo is set on the map "Refinery" in the standard deathmatch mode. Aliens vs. Predator features seven multiplayer maps, and three race classes for players to choose from.

“With the demo now gamers can get to grips with each of the three iconic species so they can hone their skills and be ready for when the game launches and battle commences,” said Jason Kingsley, CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion.

The colonial marine, the Predator and the Alien, your three species to select from, will also have intertwining single-player campaigns. Aliens vs Predator is set to be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on February 19 in Europe.

For more details on Aliens Vs. Predator, visit sega.com.

Dark Void demo is coming

WITH the launch of Capcom’s Science-Fiction third-person Shooter, Dark Void, coming soon, the firm is giving gamers a chance to experience the void for themselves this week with a downloadable demo coming to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.

Dark Void is a blend of aerial and ground combat which centres on Will, a pilot who crash lands in the Bermuda Triangle following a routine mission. Will wakes up to find himself in “The Void,” a parallel world resembling a primitive earth, upon which aliens with superior technology are planning to take over civilisation. Together with a faction of humans who have also travelled into the Void, Will takes on the alien race using their own advanced technology; including the famed high powered jet pack

The Dark Void demo will be available for download from Xbox Live on Wednesday January 6th and PlayStation Network on Thursday January 7^th. The demo will give gamers a chance to strap on their jet pack for the first time and explore the mysterious and miraculous world of Dark Void through a combination of thrilling aerial dog-fighting, unique vertical cover action and on-foot combat.

Dark Void is due to be released across Europe on Friday, January 22 and will be available for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Free games for the Wii

GAMERS can now download free games for the Nintendo Wii.

From now until January 16, Wiiware will allow gamers to download several games at no cost. These include World of Goo (2D Boy), six levels of strategy title Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord, as well as the opening levels of Bit.Trip: Beat, and NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits.

Nintendo says: "WiiWare has allowed developers with small budgets to release innovative, original, and smaller-scale games without the cost and risk of creating a title to be sold at retail." Nintendo WiiWare is now taking it one step further and allowing gamers to experiment for free.

Play the games for free by following these simple steps: Go to the Wiiware section of the Wii Shop and select "search by genre". Choose the "demo" genre to get a list of all the available demos. Select your choice(s), as you can choose as many as you'd like, and download.

PlayStation Store update November 12, 2009

TO COINCIDE with the Modern Warfare 2 blockbuster that everyone is playing, the original Call of Duty: Classic is now on the PS Store .

For the rest of the update this week, there is a varied offering, taking in a new bundle for Burnout Paradise, a new quiz pack for Buzz!, Fat Princess makes an appearance in PAIN and there is also additional content for Rag Doll Kung Fu, EyePet, Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

PSP users get three new games, three new minis, and the demo for Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier.

And we are being promised that next week, there should be a nice stream of content released, with some surprises (in-game chat, video and movie store, world peace?!).

So here's this week's update in full:

PlayStation Store via PS3 Add-On Game Content

• Fallout 3
  • Broken Steel (€7.99)
  • Operation Anchorage (€7.99)
  • The Pitt (€7.99)
  • Point Lookout (€7.99)
  • Mothership Zeta (€7.99)

Rating: PEGI 16+
Availability: Additional release for Spain only

• Burnout Paradise - Big Surf Bundle (Burnout Paradise full game and Big Surf Island pack) (£27.99/€34.99) Rating: PEGI 3+

Availability: All locales

• Buzz! – Euro Sports Quiz (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 3+

Availability: All except Czech Republic, Greece and Russia

• Pain
  • Fat Princess Pack (free)
  • Speed Oocher Pack (£1.59/€1.99)

Rating: PEGI 16+

Availability: All locales

• EyePet – Lucky Dip Styling Pack 4 (free) Rating: PEGI 3+

Availability: All locales

• Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic -
  • Mistress of Mime (free)
  • Shaolin Scarecrow (free)

Rating: PEGI 12+
Availability: All locales

• Guitar Hero 5
  • Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz (£1.59/€1.99)
  • Lady by Lenny Kravitz (£1.59/€1.99)
  • Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz (£1.59/€1.99)
  • Lenny Kravitz Track Pack (£4.39/€5.49)

Rating: PEGI 12+
Availability: All except Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates

• Rock Band
  • A Day Like This – SpongeBob SquarePants (£0.59/€0.79)
  • Club Foot by Kasabian (£0.99/€1.49)
  • Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground by White Stripes (£0.99/€1.49)
  • Employee of the Month – SpongeBob SquarePants (£0.59/€0.79)
  • Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine by White Stripes (£0.99/€1.49)
  • Icky Thump by White Stripes (£0.99/€1.49)
  • Ridin’ the Hook – SpongeBob SquarePants (£0.59/€0.79)
  • Smash It Up (Part II) by The Damned (£0.99/€1.49)
  • White Stripes Pack 01 (this pack contains the three White Stripes tracks above) (£2.49/€3.99)

Rating: PEGI 12+
Availability: All except Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and UAE

Videos (free)

• Avatar Dev Diary 2
• Dante’s Inferno Anger Dev Diary
• Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time Launch Trailer
• Just Cause 2 Island of Panua Mini Doc 2

Premium Themes

(Static themes)

• Wise Father Theme (£1.19/€1.49)
• Yuefeng Theme (£1.19/€1.49)
• King Zumo Theme (£1.19/€1.49)
• Cavalier Warrior Theme (£1.19/€1.49)

Availability: All locales

PlayStation Store via PSP and Media Go Downloadable Games (also available via the PS3 store)

• Street Fighter Alpha Max 3 (£13.99/€17.99)
• Major League Baseball 2K9 (£11.99/€14.99)
• Mana Khemia: Student Alliance (£19.99/€24.99)

Rating: PEGI 12+
Availability: All except Australia and New Zealand

minis (also available via the PS3 store)

• Circles Circles Circles (£2.49/€2.99) Rating: PEGI 3+

Availability: All except Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Switzerland

• D-Cube Planet (£2.49/€2.99) Rating: PEGI 3+

Availability: All except Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Switzerland

• Bubble Trubble (£3.99/€4.99) Rating: PEGI 3+

Availability: All locales

Demo (free)

• Jax and Daxter: The Lost Frontier Demo (free) Rating: PEGI 12+

Availability: All locales

Add-On Game Content (also available via the PS3 store)

• Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce – Additional Quests 7 (free) Rating: PEGI 12+

Availability: All locales

• Rock Band Unplugged
  • Excuse Me Mr. by No Doubt (£0.99/€1.49)
  • I’m Shipping Up To Boston by Dropkick Murphys (£0.99/€1.49)

No demo for Assassin's Creed II

IF YOU fancy having a test of Assassin's Creed II before it is released, prepare for disappointment.

It looks like gamers will have to wait until the game is released to play the upcoming sequel to the 2007 smash hit.

Assassin’s Creed 2 is due out on November 17, but apparently Ubisoft will not be releasing a demo before the game goes on sale.

Sneak preview of God of War III

I AM one of the lucky few who have been sent a special code courtesy of Sony to download the early demo of God of War III - and it rocks!
I have been a big fan of the God of War games on the PS2 and PSP in the past, and have been eagerly awaiting the HD versions that are on their way to the PS3 in the form of HD-updated version of the PS2 God of War I and II games, plus the eagerly-anticipated number three due out next year.
After playing the demo, I can honestly say that the game plays as well as ever, but the graphics are stunning - everything you expect from a current PS3 game.
You should not be disappointed - and here's a clip from youtube of the demo to tickle your tastebuds....