impulsegamer 009 - Metal Gear Acid PSP Review

Number 9 - Snnnnnnnnaaakkkkee! The cards have turned, literally for this latest installment of Metal Gear! - backing music is Into the Light from Skyrider from the album 47.34 and used with permission from http://www.endemikmusic.com. If you enjoyed this music please support the artist and buy the CD.

- Tory

Listen Here for the Review!

http://www.impulsegamer.com

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impulsegamer 008 - Age of Empires III PC Review

Number 8 - Ages of Empires III for PC Review by Tory. It's a really cool game and is sure to make a hell of a lot of people happy. You can visit impulsegamer.com to read the written version of this review. - backing music is Cactus from Young and Rollins album Sevilla and used with permission from Australia Distributor MRA Entertainment.


THIS SHOW HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE USE OF BACKING MUSIC. Despite this fact, please support Young & Rollins as they are exceptional.

Tory

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Ubisoft and free radical JOIN FORCES to PROVIDE AN INNOVATIVE ACTION BLOCKBUSTER

Today Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced that it has signed an agreement with Free Radical Design, developer of the acclaimed TimeSplitters® series, to develop an action game based on new IP for release in fiscal year 2006-2007.

The game (title to be announced) will be developed for next-generation consoles and the PC, enriching Ubisoft’s catalogue for the next fiscal year and expanding its offering on new consoles. Targeting mature gamers, it will feature difficult strategic choices and moral dilemmas, tapping into both their rational and emotional instincts.

The three games in the Free Radical’s TimeSplitters® series have earned stellar ratings from some of the industry’s most respected sources and have sold around 3.5 million copies.

“Ubisoft is looking forward to working closely with Free Radical, renowned for creating beautiful and engaging gameplay in epics such as the TimeSplitters® series,” said Virginie Gretz, director of third-party development for EMEA at Ubisoft. “With this game, we plan to take players to a new level of intensity and create an environment at once terrifying, enthralling and impossible to resist.”

“We are delighted to benefit from Ubisoft’s collaboration on this title and benefit from its strong experience developing and marketing powerful, innovative action titles,” stated Steve Ellis, managing director of Free Radical Design.

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Live the legend as Fable: The Lost Chapters ships for Xbox

New Xbox version delivers groundbreaking gameplay with a bigger world for only RRP$69.95*

Sydney 24 November, 2005 - Experience the mystical land of Albion as never before in Fable: The Lost Chapters, shipping to stores today for Xbox®, from Microsoft Game Studios and Lionhead Studios.

Fable: The Lost Chapters takes players on a legendary adventure where their every action shapes the future of the land and crafts their destiny. For just RRP$69.95*, Fable: The Lost Chapters provides exceptional value as it includes all of the award-winning gameplay of Fable, the Xbox smash hit that sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide, plus exciting new areas to explore, an arsenal of new weapons, new epic spells and plenty of new quests that will determine the fate of Albion.

In the game, a character will grow from an inexperienced child into the most powerful being in the world, spoken of by all and immortalised in legend. Every action will mould the character’s skills, appearance and morality as his life story is created from childhood, progressing through adulthood and onto old age.

Will players choose the path of righteousness or a life of evil? Characters will transform to reflect every decision and action, scarring in battle and wizening with age in the world of Fable: The Lost Chapters. For more information, please visit the Fable: The Lost Chapters site at http://www.xbox.com/en-AU/games/f/fabletlc/

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Red Ant ships Premier Manager 2005-2006

Sydney, NSW November, 24th 2005 – Red Ant today announced Premier Manager 2005 – 2006 has shipped to stores nationwide and is available to play on PS2, PC and GBA.

As the definitive take on football management, Premier Manager 2005-2006 invites you to take control of your favourite club’s destiny. Whether brokering multi-million pound transfers, negotiating TV rights, dealing with player tantrums or squeezing the chairman for cash, one thing is certain. The club’s future is in your hands.

You may be calling up fixtures, news and medical reports in preparation for the next match, whilst consulting with the scout and junior team coach, all before holding a press conference on the latest antics of the star midfielder and heading off to the big Saturday afternoon match. It’s all in a hard day’s work, but success is ultimately measured by results. Will it be silverware or P45 this season?

Features:

· A superior logic system gives a faster logical and graphical update, giving you get a more realistic football management experience

· Intuitive interface and messaging system; intelligent information filters help present the stats you need quickly and clearly

· Get closer to the action with ‘Ball Cam’ – switch tactics and formations with a single button press

· Play through 14 divisions across England, Scotland, France, Spain, Germany and Italy - compete in 12 cups and pick from nearly 10,000 players.

· Training and scouting players, negotiating transfers and dealing with the press – you’ll be in total control

· AI - The general game AI has been vastly improved to give a more realistic match experience, featuring a raft of new ‘plays’ and the undertaking of comprehensive testing to further develop opponent logic routines and ensure that no one tactic ends up being superior to all others.

· 2D Matches - While retaining its 2D match engine, Premier Manager 2005-2006 features two camera options: a wide-angle traditional view of the entire pitch and a ‘Ball Cam’ view which focuses on the area immediately around the ball. This close up view will enable you to clearly see the effect your tactics are having and follow the action more easily.

· Tactics - Premier Manager 2005-2006 introduces an enhanced positioning system giving an improved range of tactical options

· Interface - The new ‘Home Screen’ incorporates a data window with relevant performance stats in the top half and a context sensitive tasks window in the bottom half. You can easily see how well you are doing and which tasks need to be completed before the game can continue. Premier Manger 2005-2006 features more quick messages that guide you through the game – calling for meetings only on the most important game occasions

· Looks - Playing Premier Manager 2005-2006 is like interacting with a football news program; it doesn’t clutter the screen with needless detail. Using optimised intelligent information filters to display the required information quickly and clearly and great graphics to create a fantastic football atmosphere.

· Meeting System - Premier Manager 2005-2006 features a refined meeting system to make it even more relevant to your gaming experience. Meetings are only called for the vital club decisions that require more interaction from the player than afforded by the quick messaging system. Negotiations over transfers and contracts flow back and forth quickly and intuitively, generating a lot of tension and suspense in the process.

Genre: Sports/Soccer Management

Release Date: November 24th 2005

Format: P2, PC, GBA

Publisher: Zoo Digital Publishing

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NICKELODEON'S TOP TV CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE....

NICKELODEON'S TOP TV CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE IN NEW
NICKTOONS* UNITE! VIDEO GAME FROM THQ

Nicktoons Brand to Go Multi-Platform for the First Time with
the Release of Nicktoons Unite! for the PlayStation*2, Nintendo GameCube*,
and
Game Boy* Advance Video Game Systems


AGOURA HILLS, Calif., - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Nickelodeon today
announced Nicktoons* Unite! for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment
system and Nintendo GameCube* and Game Boy* Advance videogame systems has
shipped to retail outlets throughout North America. Nicktoons Unite! allows
players to interact with the stars from some of the most popular Nickelodeon
TV shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Timmy Turner (from the Fairly
OddParents), Jimmy Neutron and Danny Phantom.

"Our partnership with Nickelodeon has yielded a portfolio of successful
products in recent years, with more than 16 million games sold-in to date,"
said Kelly Flock, executive vice president, worldwide publishing, THQ.
"Last year's Nicktoons: Movin' was one of the top stand-alone games for the
EyeToy* USB Camera (for PlayStation*2) during the 2004 holiday season, and
we're looking forward to bringing Nicktoons to additional video game
platforms this holiday season with the new Nicktoons Unite!."

"With Nicktoons being the only brand where characters from various top-rated
Nickelodeon TV shows co-exist, we're excited to have the opportunity to
launch this new game on multiple gaming platforms," said Steve Youngwood,
senior vice president, Entertainment Products, Nickelodeon and Viacom
Consumer Products. "Nicktoons Unite! is a great opportunity for Nickelodeon
fans to simultaneously interact with many of their favorite characters."

For more information on Nicktoons! Unite and the rest of THQ's product
line-up, please visit www.thq.com .



About Nicktoons! Unite
Nicktoons Unite! is a 1-4 player cooperative, 15 level video game featuring
SpongeBob SquarePants, Timmy Turner, Jimmy Neutron and Danny Phantom. In
this new game, the most devious plan ever created in the Nicktoons world is
unfolding. Professor Calamitous has pulled together Plankton, Vlad and
Crocker to form a group known as The Evil Syndicate. The wicked foursome
have begun to wreak havoc throughout Retroville, Amity Park, Dimmsdale and
Bikini Bottom in an attempt to take over the world. Not to be outsmarted,
Jimmy Neutron calls upon his own band of Nicktoons to take out The Evil
Syndicate, along with the devastating Doomsday device. It's good versus
evil where only one side will prevail in Nicktoons Unite!.

About Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products manages the third largest licensing
business in the world with $4.7 billion in retail sales in 2004, from such
properties as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. The department
handles the merchandising for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures,
Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV.

Nickelodeon, now in its 26th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for
kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in
everything it does. The company includes television programming and
production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer
products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films.
Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 89 million
households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for ten
consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos
are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.


About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of
interactive entertainment software. The company develops products for all
popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered
in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global
network of offices located in the United States, United Kingdom, Austria,
France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Korea and Australia. More information
about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com
and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless and their respective logos are
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.

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More Problems with US launch of XBox 360

Our US correspondent, Edwin Milheim shot us this release about the popular new console. Now we do urge that readers remember that this is occuring in the USA and may have no bearing on the Aussie release:

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. said Wednesday it had received isolated reports of technical problems with its popular new Xbox 360 videogame system.
Some owners complained that their systems were crashing during game play, sometimes with error messages popping up. On http://www.xbox-scene.com , a site dedicated to Xbox gaming, a member called jsgongwon reported that he could not finish the first lap of "Project Gotham Racing 3."
"It's a few reports of consoles here and there not working properly," said Molly O'Donnell, a spokeswoman for Microsoft's Xbox division. "It's what you would expect with a consumer electronics instrument of this complexity .... par for the course."
Gaming fanatics lined up for hours Monday to be among the first to purchase the next-generation system, which was in short supply despite its starting price tag of $299.99. Microsoft hopes to sell 2.5 million to 3 million of the new systems in the first 90 days.

O'Donnell urged anyone with Xbox problems to call 1-800-4myXbox or go to http://www.xbox.com . If the problems can't be resolved immediately, Microsoft said it will pay to ship the console overnight to a repair center, overnight it back once it's fixed, or ship a replacement.

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impulsegamer 007 - Dungeon Siege II for PC

Number Seven: Dungeon Siege II review - backing music is Turkish Night by Ottmar Liebert's album Luna Negra (The Santa Fe Sessions) and used with permission from Australia Distributor MRA Entertainment. If you enjoyed this music please support the artist and buy the CD

THIS SHOW HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE USE OF BACKING MUSIC. Despite this fact, please support Young & Rollins as they are exceptional.

Tory

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impulsegamer 006 - XBox is released in the USA

Sixth One - XBox 360 is out in the states but users are already reporting problems with the console. Our US correspondent Edwin gives us the goss from Florida!

- Tory

Listen Here for the Review!

http://www.impulsegamer.com

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Xbox’s Australian faithful begin launch trip

Sydney 21 November 2005 - About 30 Australians have made a pilgrimage to the Californian desert for the global launch of the Xbox 360.

They’ve made a 23,000 kilometre round trip to join about 3,500 people attending the launch at a remote location in the Mojave Desert.

For Sydney sales manager Issy Belleli, the trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Belleli, 34, is an ardent gamer chosen by Microsoft to attend the global launch event as a VIP.

“When the rumours were confirmed that there was going to be a new Xbox this year I knew there is no way in the world I would miss the release of the Xbox 360. I've been into the Xbox in a big way since release and a 13-hour plane ride wasn't going to keep me away,” Belleli said.

“I can’t wait to slam Perfect Dark Zero into the disc tray as soon as I plug the Xbox 360 in. From what I've seen this game has all the elements - hi-def graphics, awesome gameplay, and 32 person multiplayer gaming over Xbox Live, which is where the fun is at for me.”

David McLean, Director, Entertainment and Devices Division, Microsoft Australia said he was taken aback by the enthusiasm.

“We’ve always known that we had some hardcore Xbox supporters, but this has just blown us away. There are almost as many gamers from Australia on the trip as there are from the whole of Europe,” McLean said.

“They had no idea of the location or what’s going to be happening, yet they were prepared to drop everything and fly halfway around the world just to be a part of it.”

Joining Belleli and thousands of other Xbox faithful is an array of sporting greats, musicians and film and TV stars. The desert venue features hundreds of Xbox 360 machines, and the entire Xbox 360 launch line-up is available for attendees to play.

http://www.impulsegamer.com

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SEGA ANNOUNCES THE RUB RABBITS!

Rub It! Love It! Rabbit!

LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (November 10, 2005) - SEGA® Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of
America, Inc. today announced that it will publish The Rub Rabbits!(tm)
exclusively for the Nintendo DS(tm) system. Developed by SONIC TEAM, the
creators of Feel the Magic(tm), The Rub Rabbits! delivers an all new "rub
comedy" adventure offering innovative gameplay, quirky original music,
stylized art, and many new modes and features.

The Rub Rabbits! leverages the unique Touch Screen and voice-recognition
interface on the Nintendo DS hardware by challenging gamers to switch from
tapping and rubbing to screaming and blowing as a means of controlling
character actions. Four brand new modes have also been added including the
Hullabaloo Mode in which you and a friend get finger-tied in rounds of
"Twister," and the Connect Mode in which you can play any of six multiplayer
games with up to four friends. You can also play in a time attack of
previously cleared chapters in Attack Mode.

Getting the girl is never easy, especially if you're competing against 12
other rivals. So it's up to you to battle your rivals and win the affection
of your love interest... And that's just the beginning. The Rub Rabbits!
offers over 35 chapters in Story Mode, in addition to double the content in
the newly expanded Memories and Maniac Modes (a setting that gives players
the ability to customize the in-game characters appearance).

The Rub Rabbits! is hopping into retailers in February 2006. For further
information on this and other SEGA titles click on www.sega-europe.com
.

THE RUB RABBITS!
PAGE 2 OF 2

Key Product Features:
* Innovative gameplay. Hold the Nintendo DS sideways, upside down, or
hold it with a friend for co-op and battle play.
* An all-new "rub comedy" adventure. Double the content with over 35
Chapters in the Story Mode alone.
* Seven different gameplay modes. In addition to Story, Memories and
Maniac Modes, four brand new modes - Attack, Hullabaloo, "Baby Making" and
Connect Modes - will keep players entertained and interacting for a long
time!
* All new original music, art, and characters. Brand new customization
modes allow you to unlock songs and sounds to make your own original music,
and customize the in-game characters appearance.
* Multiplayer Wireless function. Compete in six different multiplayer
contests with up to four players.

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impulsegamer 005 - Suffering Ties that Bind PS2 Review

Fifth One - Review: Suffering: Ties that Bind PS2 from Red Ant. Hope you enjoy!

- Tory

Listen Here for the Review!

http://www.impulsegamer.com

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impulsegamer 003 - Jeepers! Won't These Guys Develop a Format?

Third Show - We are getting there! Hope you enjoy!

- Tory

Listen Here for the Lunacy of Show 003!

http://www.impulsegamer.com

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impulsegamer 002 - Holy Heck, There's More Than One!

Second Show - Get it into ya! Hope you enjoy!

- Tory

Listen Here for the Craziness of Show 002!

http://www.impulsegamer.com

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impulsegamer 001 - Our First Show!

Welcome to the impulsegamer podcast, there's news and views for everyone. We apologise if you've heard this before but we're setting up the format so that it is in a proper podcast feed that you can subscribe to. This was recorded in August from memory. Hope you enjoy!
- Tory

Listen Here for the Insanity of Show 001!

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We're Off and Racing!

Here we go folks. I'll be getting the shiznit ready soon dudes.

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