PGR4 downloadable content

Microsoft and Bizarre Creations announced today that they will be releasing new downloadable content for PGR4 this Thursday, February 14 ^th (Valentine's Day). Two new packs will be available, one free and one which will cost 400 Microsoft Points. The Free Challenge Pack contains the hydrogen-powered 2007 Peugeot Flux, two new game modes (Tourist and Free Roam Cat & Mouse) and seven new achievements.

Tourist Mode is a simple mode forum users have requested. Players drive round an open city for a period of time determined by the host. The player with the most kudos is determined the “winner”, but this is really a sandbox mode where players can drive around looking at the environment and making their own games up.

Free Roam Cat & Mouse Mode is a team based game where each team has a slow “mouse” vehicle, with the rest of the players in high powered “cat” vehicles. The mouse earns kudos for every 2 seconds it avoids being hit by enemy cats. On being hit by a cat the mouse is “wasted” and can’t earn kudos for set period of time. Cat players get a kudos reward for hitting an enemy mouse and also for defending their own mouse. The team with the most kudos after a time period set by the host wins the event.

The 7 new achievements are:

1. Tourist Kudos King – Earn more kudos than anyone else in a Tourist event – 15 points
2. Open Cat Champion – Be a cat on the winning team in a Cat and Mouse Open Event – 15 points
3. Open Mouse Master – Be a mouse on the winning team in a Cat and Mouse Open Event – 15 points
4. Cheater- Activate one of the cheats in the cheat menu – 5 points
5. Make the Grade – Attempt to qualify for a Tournament –10 points
6. 01 Yee Haw: Puzzle 4 –10 Points
7. Are You the One? Puzzle 5 –10 Points

The Premium Challenge Pack costs, as previously mentioned, 400 Microsoft Points and comes with everything the Free Challenge Pack has, plus seven new cars, three new bikes, 20 arcade events, five platinum-only events and three achievements not included in the Free Challenge Pack. The new cars included in the Premium Challenge Pack are the 2008 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept, 2007 Volkswagen Golf GTI W12-650, 2007 Peugeot Flux, 1987 BMW M3 E30 DTM, 2007 Ferrari 430 Scuderia, 2008 Honda S2000 CR, and 2008 Callaway C16 Speedster. The three new bikes included in the Premium Challenge Pack are the 2007 Yamaha YZF-R1, 1995 Aprilia RS 250, and 1998 Aprilia RSV 1000 Tuono R.

The Premium Challenge Pack's new World Challenge Mode is a new option that appears in the single player menu, and contains 20 arcade events split into 3 themed chapters:

1. Platinum Plus – Arcade chapter that is harder than Platinum difficulty
2. DLC Challenge – Arcade chapter that limits vehicles to the Premium Challenge Pack cars
3. Arcade Challenge – Similar to the shipped Arcade mode

The three extra achievements, available only in the Premium Challenge Pack, are:

1. Platinum Plus – Get all the platinum medals in the Platinum Plus Challenge – 60 points
2. Download King – Complete the DLC Challenge chapter – 60 points
3. Arcade Challenge – Complete Arcade Challenge chapter – 50 points

Hasbro titles come to EA's Casual Entertainment Label

Electronic Art's Casual Entertainment Label announced what it call “its first step in transforming the interactive family entertainment landscape ” today, with the announcement of its initial slate of Hasbro games in development for various platforms. Starting this fall, Wii and Nintendo DS users will have the opportunity to play Littlest Pet Shop and NERF “N-Strike” . EA also said that it is currently developing new Monopoly and Scrabble (for North America) titles for multiple platforms, along with other titles that will be announced later in the year. Scrabble (for North America) and Yahtzee Deluxe are already available for the mobile platform and, starting this spring, EA Mobile will be introducing more classic Hasbro titles, including Monopoly Here & Now , Trivial Pursuit , Risk and Yahtzee Adventures , which re-invents the classic dice game.

Pogo.com will also be receiving many of the same Hasbro titles, plus additional downloadable titles, Operation and Pictureka , which can be played either offline or online on Pogo (which will open bonus features and social gaming).

2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational announced

Today, Blizzard Entertainment announced its plans to hold its fourth annual Worldwide Invitational on the 28 ^th and 29 ^th of June in Paris, France. Designed to bring the company and gamers together under one roof, the Worldwide Invitational celebrates the communities surrounding Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft , Diablo and StarCraft series as well as showcasing the skills of top eSports gamers from around the world. “We look forward to bringing the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational to Europe for the first time and sharing our latest news with players there,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “In addition to the great tournament gaming that will be taking place at the event, we’re planning an entertaining show for all attendees.”

The Worldwide Invitational is open to gamers ages 16 and up, or younger if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Aside from tournaments, the Worldwide Invitational will include:

• Discussion panels with Blizzard Entertainment developers

• Artist and developer signings

• Hands-on play with World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King™ and StarCraft II

• Merchandise and other products based on the Blizzard Entertainment game universes

• A silent auction

• Musical performances

• And more exciting activities to be announced

Tickets for the event will be limited and will be made available for purchase in the next few weeks at the price of €70/£55 per ticket. At the current exchange rate, that comes out to approximately $101 USD or CAD for any North Americans out there considering making the trip. More information on the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational will be posted at http://us.blizzard.com/wwi08 as Blizzard announces it.