Tank Battle: Iron Warfare features:
Fast-paced tank combat action and base capture gameplay with up to eight intelligent AI tanks battling it out across approximately one square mile, completely 3D battlefields
20 levels that get more difficult as you advance
Play as either the German, Soviet or United States teams
Utilize the Accelerometer to master the precise aiming control to take out the opposition
Several different tank models to choose
Hidden Easter eggs in advanced levels

Tank Battle: Iron Warfare is now available from the Apps Store for $1.99.

Rating:

BUY

There have been many WWII games that have come out, so initially I wasn’t too blown away by Pandemic’s game Saboteur. However once I read what people were saying on Twitter and got my hands on the game itself, I changed my tune fairly quickly. You play as Irishman Sean Devlin (who is actually based off of William Grover-Williams) who winds up trapped in Nazi occupied Paris after a race goes awry in Saarbrucken, Germany. Once escaping to Paris, Sean meets up with Luc Gaudin and he begins to take his place as an undercover mercenary against the Nazis.

The game essentially plays out as GTA but in Nazi occupied France. Now normally I don’t play GTA much except for freeplay, but with Saboteur I found the various missions fun and kept going to hear more of the story and to see what developed. The controls are pretty easy to pick up for combat and driving. In fact I have to say the controls in Saboteur are much smoother to me than those in GTA. And just because it is similar to GTA does not mean the game gets boring.

There are many various mission you play through from sabotaging Nazi bases, winning races, romancing women and helping restore spirit to the people of Paris. That last part includes one of my favorite aspects of the game. When you first start off in Paris, everything is in greys with the only the reds in Nazi flags and banners accentuated. However as you complete missions you restore the people’s Will to Fight and the neighborhood regains color. Traveling between areas you’ve already restored the WtF to and areas still heavily occupied by Nazis is seemless and it really adds a noir aspect to the game which I love. Scenery aside, the character animations could have been done better and seem rather rough.

I am sad that this was Pandemic’s swan song game. It’s a good game and really brings together interesting historical aspects along with gameplay. At the time of this writing I haven’t finished the game completely as I’m still working on various side missions on top of the main storyline.  And yes, I did enter the code for the Midnight Show. They did a good job at rendering the girls’… girls, and if that floats your boat you won’t be disappointed. I guess it just adds on to that cabaret feel.

Review product provided by EA, and does not affect the outcome of this review.

EA has confirmed what has been a rumor for some time that they will be doing a re-boot and bringing back Medal of Honor. They will be putting the story of Medal of Honor in war-torn Afghanistan instead of WWII. The title is due out in 2010 and EALA has been working on the title and is using EA DICE team to assist with multiplayer. EA DICE knows about multiplayer with previous titles being from the Battlefield franchise.

The game introduces the Tier 1 Operator who takes on missions no one else can handle.

“When we first set out to reinvent Medal of Honor, we wanted to stay true to its roots of authenticity and respect for the soldier but bring it into today’s war. The Tier 1 Operator is the most disciplined, deliberate and prepared warrior on the battlefield. He is a living, breathing, precision instrument of war.” said Greg Goodrich, Executive Producer, Medal of Honor. “We are honored to have the rare opportunity to work closely with these men to create a game that shares their experience.”

During the Spike TV VGA awards there will be a first look video of the new Medal of Honor.

“EA has always been an advocate for telling the soldiers’ story. The new Medal of Honor follows that tradition. We felt it was important to tell the story of today’s war and today’s elite soldiers via today’s most relevant medium – videogames,” said Sean Decker, VP and General Manager of EALA. “We are so proud to bring together two powerhouse development teams to make this game a reality; EA Los Angeles and EA DICE. Medal of Honor promises to be an unforgettable entry in the modern shooter genre.”

So today the American Library Association announced that November 14th will be “National Gaming Day” in all libraries. They will offer people the chance to go to the library and play a game and learn more about the real stories that inspired them. There hasn’t been any study in the area of video games based off of history, but according to the Reuter’s article: “Michael Pachter, videogame analyst for Wedbush Morgan Securities, estimates games incorporating history into their stories have made up about 10 percent of overall sales over the past year.”

I find it interesting that the ALA has taken notice of this and has decided to embrace and use video games as a learning tool and starting point to get more kids and young adults interested in learning more about history. I also really enjoy playing these games that have a basis in history or have you interact with key historical figures.

So I encourage you to take your younger siblings, children or even go yourself your local  library on the 14th to see what events they may be having!

Via Reuters

Xbox 360 owners who are interested in the release of “IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey” should head to Xbox LIVE Marketplace right now as there is a demo of this WWII action simulation game available! The demo gives you a peek at two scenarios from the game: “The Battle of Britain” and “The Battle of the Bulge”.

In “Battle of Britain: Red Skies Over Dover”, you play an RAF pilot in control of an Mk. II Spitfire with B wing armament (which means you have 2 canons and 4 machine guns). You start off by eliminating some stray He-111 German bombers, but soon you’ll be facing larger bombers and Stuka bombers. You will also learn how to put your wingmen to good use as the mission unfolds.

For “Battle of the Bulge: Tiger Hunt” you take control of the US Air Force P-51D Mustang and get rid of a few Germans making their presence known in the Ardennes. Some FW-190 fighters will be dispatched to give you a hand, but the Tigers are what the focus is really on and the US forces need to keep the Germans at bay while defending the front line. You’ll also be able to try out rocket attacks on ground targets while taking in the snow-capped view of the Belgian landscape.

“IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey” is based on combat that took place during WWII, giving players the chance to re-enact some of the most famous battle confrontations in fighter pilot history. With 6 geographical settings to experience (The Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily, the Battle of the Bulge, and Korsun) the game also shows real-time damage to your plane such as bullet holes in the wings and trail lines during dogfights.

The full version will be available for Australian fans on September 3^rd, while NZ fans get their copies made available on September 4^th. For all the latest information on “IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey” visit www.il2game.com.

EDIT: As of the 22nd of August, you can now get the demo on PS3 as well!

The critically acclaimed long-running cooking manga is written by Tetsu Kariya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki. Published by VIZ Media under its VIZ Signature imprint,Oishinbo: Fish, Sushi and Sashimi edition is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will become avaialble on July 21^st with an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $15.00 CAN.

OISHINBO (or “The Gourmet“) depicts the culinary journey of journalist Shiro Yamaoka, who is tasked by fictional newspaper Tozai News to create the ultimate menu. Yamaoka and his father, Kaibara Yzan, have never enjoyed an ideal father-son relationship. In fact, it’s about as far from ideal as possible, and when they start arguing about food – which they inevitably do – the sparks really fly. In this latest volume of OISHINBO the subject of dispute is fish, starting with the question of whether mackerel can ever be truly good sashimi. Later, things come to a head during the “Salmon Battle,” which pits father against son in an epic contest to develop the best dish before a panel of judges. Will Yamaoka finally defeat Kaibara, or will he once again be left in his father’s shadow?

Previous OISHINBO editions have focused on other popular Japanese cuisine items such as ramen, gyoza, and sake. VIZ Media has selected highlights from the epic 100+ volume series and compiled them into seven a la carte editions that can be enjoyed individually or as a series. OISHINBO also won the prestigious 32^nd Shogakukan Manga Award in 1986.

VIZ Media to Release Children of the Sea manga!

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, announced the release of Daisuke Igarashi’s surreal and riveting manga series, CHILDREN OF THE SEA, releasing July 21st in North America. The manga is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an estimated MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $17.50 CAN.

When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. Ruka’s dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly aware of what the children are experiencing as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans’ fish.

This is the first title to be published under IKKI by from VIZ Media, a sub-imprint of the VIZ Signature imprint. They have also created an online magazine which can be found here. They will present free chapters of their stories to their readers.

A little bit about IKKI magazine: IKKI, a monthly magazine published in Japan has established itself as the home of some of the most innovative, bold, and compelling series in the world of contemporary manga. Since its launch in 2003 IKKI has built a catalog of titles notable for its diversity. From action to comedy to drama, from slice-of-life stories to surrealist fantasies, the one common thing these works share is an uncommon emphasis on creative quality and on pushing the boundaries of the norm.

You can read the manga online at: http://www.sigikki.com/series/childrenofthesea.shtml.

ULTIMO! Featured in July Issue of Shonen Jump Magazine!

VIZ Media, one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the debut of the serialization of the ULTIMO series (KARAKURIDÔJI ULTIMO) in SHONEN JUMP magazine. Originally announced to a packed house at a Press Conference at New York Comic Con in 2008, the serialization begins in the July issue of SHONEN JUMP magazine, which is on sale now at retailers and newsstands nationwide.

ULTIMO represents a historic collaboration between comics legend Stan Lee, co-creator of many iconic superheroes including Spider-Man™, the Fantastic Four™, and the X-Men™, and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular SHAMAN KING manga series, published in Japan by Shueisha and in North America by VIZ Media.

The ULTIMO back-story: High above Farmless City, citizens are stunned by the sudden appearance of two floating figures. Are they human boys, monolithic robots, or something much more strange? As the battle ensues between them, destruction and devastation falls on the hapless city. One figure is Vice, and seems to be as evil as his name implies. The other is Ultimo, intent on trying to stop Vice from wreaking more havoc. But who are Vice and Ultimo really? Where did they come from? Find out in the first chapter of ULTIMO!

“The addition of ULTIMO to SHONEN JUMP magazine marks this as a great time for both manga and comics, and we are very excited to be able to deliver this bold new story to fans every month,” says Grant Lowery, Editor-In-Chief of SHONEN JUMP. “The captivating character designs and action-packed story blend the best aspects of Western and Asian comic book traditions and will delight fans of both genres. We invite fans of both comics and manga to seize the opportunity to explore this groundbreaking new series!”

For over half a century, Stan Lee has been synonymous with superhero comics. In addition to co-creating countless memorable series and characters, including Spider-Man™, the Incredible Hulk™, and Daredevil™, he served as the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Lee remains a hugely respected and dynamic figure in the entertainment industry and continues to develop a variety of film, television and video game properties.

Unconventional author/artist Hiroyuki Takei began his career by winning the coveted Hop Step Award (for new manga artists) and the Osamu Tezuka Award. After working as an assistant to famed artist Nobuhiro Watsuki (RUROUNI KENSHIN), Takei debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 with Butsu Zone, an action series based on Buddhist mythology. His multicultural adventure manga series SHAMAN KING debuted in Japan in 1998 and has been adapted into a popular animated television series The SHAMAN KING manga series is published in North America by VIZ Media and to-date has sold more than 400,000 copies in the U.S.; for many years it was also serialized in English in VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP magazine.

VIZ Media August DVD releases

VIZ Media has announced their releases for the month of August. Check them out:

NARUTO Uncut Box Set Volume 15 Special Edition · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens ·

MSRP: $69.97 US / $99.99 CAN · Available August 25

Ino faces an unusual exercise in royal etiquette when she is asked by an overweight princess to take her place and attend the first meeting with the young prince she adores. Then the Hidden Leaf Village comes under serious threat when important blueprints of the village are stolen! Naruto, Shikamaru and the others have their hands full finding and removing the massive numbers of paper bombs placed throughout the village. Can they save the Hidden Leaf Village from utter demolition?

Includes playing cards 37-45 and a collectible Mininja Gaara Figurine (5 of 6) (limited supply)

BLEACH Volume 19 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN · Available August 18

Attempting to rescue Uryu, Ichigo, Rukia and their diverse allies launch an attack on the stronghold of the Bounts. But the evil Bount leader Kariya is far too powerful a foe, and things are looking grim. To make things more complicated still, it appears that one of their foes fighting alongside the Bounts is a former Soul Reaper, Maki Ichinose.

Episodes: 76 thru 79

HUNTER X HUNTER Box Set Volume 3 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens ·

MSRP: $49.95 US / $71.99 CAN · Available August 11

Gon has finally been licensed as a hunter, and things are about to get a whole lot tougher! First he has to rescue his friend Killua from the clutches of…Killua’s own family?! Then it’s off to Heavens Arena, home to the biggest fighting tournament on the planet, where Gon must square off against his old enemy Hisoka.  Gon is committed to being the best hunter he can be, but will he have to overcome more than a few broken bones to reach his goal?

New POKÉMON Releases Include:

POKÉMON: DP BATTLE DIMENSION Box Set 2 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages ·

MSRP: $24.92 each US / $35.99 each CAN · Available August 25

Ash and friends continue their Pokémon journey through the Sinnoh region, taking on new challenges like the Pokémon Summer Academy and meeting lots of new people, including a Top Coordinator, a Pokémon Ranger, and even some Poké Stylists! There are also a few familiar faces up to no good, like Pokémon Hunter J and Team Galactic – can Ash, Dawn, and Brock handle their latest threats?

POKÉMON: DP BATTLE DIMENSION Volume 3-4 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages · MSRP: $14.98 each US / $21.99 each CAN · Available August 25

The episodes of POKÉMON: Diamond and Pearl Battle Dimension Box Set 2 split into two standard disc editions.

POKÉMON ALL STARS Box Set 2 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages · MSRP: $39.97 each US / $57.99 each CAN · Available August 25

Over 11 hours of Pokémon adventures featuring more of your favorite Pokémon in a commemorative DVD box set! Includes: Meowth, Treecko, Psyduck, Wobbuffet, Lapras, Totodile, Skitty, Chikorita, Torchic, and Onix!

New from VIZ Pictures:

DEATH NOTE:  L, Change the WorLd · MSRP: $24.92 US /$35.99 ·

Available August 18

The live action feature film -DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd introduces the unwritten chapter of DEATH NOTE and reveals how the legendary detective “L” spends the final 23 days of his life. The story begins as L takes on the “Kira” case, in which countless criminals are dying under mysterious circumstances. L successfully solves the case and stops Kira, but only after sacrificing his life, leaving himself with only 23 days left to live. For his final case L faces down a bio-terrorist group trying to wipe out humanity with a deadly virus ten times more potent than Ebola. As L tries to formulate an antidote with a scientist, he must also save the lives of two children who have no one else to turn to.

Children of the Sea KAIJU NO KODOMO © Daisuke IGARASHI / Shogakukan Inc.

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