Trion Also At Work On First-Party Van Caneghem MMO, PS3 Titles

Earlier this morning, we reported Trion World Network is teaming up with the Sci-Fi channel to create an MMO based on an upcoming show, a cool idea as the show's direction is intended to evolve depending on what players do in the game. That co-development agreement is not the only thing Trion has in the works, however.

Trion's first title will be a first-party game, a fantasy-themed MMO headed by Jon Van Caneghem (shown), creator of the Might and Magic and Heroes RPG and strategy franchises. Trion will self-publish in North America and Europe through its own proprietary platform

Though the company announced its platform several months ago before any games were on the horizon, it's not restricting itself to a first-party strategy; Trion also announced a publishing partnership today with Sony Computer Entertainment America to do games for the PS3 in North America, though no specific PS3 titles have been announced yet.

Both the first-party game announce and the SCEA partnership release follow the jump:

BattleForge: EA's Answer To Magic: The Gathering

"BattleForge is the next step in compelling RTS gameplay by taking the battles completely online," stated Executive Producer & Vice President Richard Leinfellner. "With co-op play, challenging tournaments, Guilds, chat rooms and a robust marketplace for trading and buying your cards; BattleForge is the first RTS to add integral social and community components to an exciting fantasy RTS."

Magic Online III Launches With Mediocrity

In what may be news only interesting to me and my occasional pilgrimage of interest to Magic the Gathering, Magic Online III has launched, allowing players all over the world to duke it out with virtual cards in the virtual world. Unfortunately, only 1,300 players caused the servers to crash on launch day. Since then, there have been frequent reports of lag...a disappointment for a bandwidth-light card game.

But IGN says that the worst part of it all is a crumby, poorly-designed interface that doesn't like to save your settings. They give the game a 5.5 but assure us, "The good news is, it can only get better." Too bad. I guess I'll be waiting a bit longer before re-injecting that needle.

Magic Online III [IGN]

Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom Closing, Fans Hysterical

Once upon a time, Disney had this virtual world called (creatively enough) Virtual Magic Kingdom:

As with Habbo Hotel, Virtual Magic Kingdom was developed by Finnish studio Sulake and shared many similarities with the social networking site. Players with registered accounts are able to decorate their personal rooms, earn and spend in-game credits, and participate in a variety of online events and activities with their customized avatars, all in a "safe, non-threatening environment."

Disney Closes Gates To Virtual Magic Kingdom [Worlds In Motion]

Dark Messiah DLC Live

You'd think Ubisoft wouldn't bother with a downloadable content for a game that performed as badly as Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements, but here we are. A 400 Microsoft point pack of DLC for the dark mess of Might & Magic went live early this morning, containing new maps, more powerful weapons, and two new classes for the single player game. While the paladin is generally a holy warrior in fantasy games, the new DMM&M paladin uses underhanded spells like shrink and charm to win battles. Then there's the warlock, who casts spells from a distance before going in for the kill with his blade. Perhaps not enough to make up for the game's awkward controls and muddy graphics, but I'm sure the folks that picked up the game and actually managed to enjoy themselves appreciate the effort.

DMMM:Elements In Game Content [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Nintendo DS Notepad Mod Accepts Pencils, Doodles

In what must be the laziest mod ever created by man, Instructables has posted a 7-step process on how to make your Nintendo DS into a notepad ripe for penciling notes. How they got to 7 steps we're not quite sure, since all you do is cover the case in Scotch Magic Tape. From there, you can safely write on the surface and even erase and start over.

To us, it seems like a simple, non-committal way to decorate the handheld however you'd like. In other words, the first person to scribble "the cake is a lie" all over their DS will rule the internet for precisely 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Pointing fish also come highly recommended.

Nintendo DS lite Notepad [Instructables]

Hasbro Signs Film Deal - Monopoly The Movie?

Hasbro Inc. (HAS) and Universal Pictures formed a six-year strategic partnership to produce at least four motion pictures based on brands such as Monopoly, Candy Land, Ouija, Battleship, Magic, the Gathering and Stretch Armstrong.

"We're excited to bring the Magic brand to new platforms and give our fans new ways to experience this great property," said Jared Gustafson, Brand Director for Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast.

Nice little collection of titles coming out this week. My money is on Professor Layton although Lost Odyssey seems rather intriguing. On the PC side of things, the new episode of Sam and Max is on its way as well as a new version of RPG Maker. What will be taking money out of your wallet this week?

Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS)

Lost Odyssey (X360)

Conflict: Denied Ops (PC, X360, PS3)

Penumbra: Black Plague (PC)

Jumper (X360, WII, PS2)

Dungeon Explorer: Warrior of the Ancient Arts (PSP, DS)

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements (X360)

Spaceforce: Captains (PC)

Sam & Max Episode 203: Night of the Raving Dead (PC)

Carrier Strike Force (PC)

XIII Century: Death or Glory (PC)

Wipeout Pulse (PSP)

Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon (Special Edition) (PS2)

RPG Maker VX (PC)

First Shots Of Disney DS?

Not so long ago, we heard rumblings about a Disney Magic Kingdom program for the Nintendo DS. Now CVG may have scored the first pictures/intel. Featuring a map, character locations, line times, trivia and even directions to the nearest ATM, Disney DS (our name) is sounding like an excellent way to make your next visit to Disney more enjoyable. The only detail that comes to question is how the program tracks a user's location—is it actually GPS technology proper, or something specific to the Magic Kingdom, triangulating location through other means? We're anxious to find out.

Disney DS looks promising, but programs like this would be killer apps were the DS just a tad more pocketable. But what do you think? Hot or not?

Disney DS GPS details emerge [cvg]

"This is a new type of game for Ubisoft, one that allows you to jump into a rich and complex universe just with your Web browser," said Serge Hascoët, Chief Creative Officer. "Heroes of Might and Magic Kingdoms will open a wide door to the Might and Magic universe, allowing players to immerse themselves within it unlike ever before."

My game purchases this week will be woefully small as not only am I staying with a friend in NYC who is a non-gamer and therefore has no consoles, but I am leaving on Wed. for LA to go to E for All. But one thing I will definitely be picking up is Beautiful Katamari just so I can hold it in my hand and wish I could play it. What's on your must have purchase list this week?

Beautiful Katamari (X360)
The Prince and The King are back for more Katamari rolling goodness.

Heroes of Might and Magic V: Tribes of the East (PC)
Now with more Orcs.

Fury (PC)
PvP to your heart's content.

Crash of the Titans (PSP)
Crash is back and making waves on the PSP.

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground (X360, PS2, WII, PS3, DS)
My kid can ollie over your honor roll student.

Spider-Man 3 (PSP)
Trapped in the web of love.

Victorious Boxers: Revolution (WII)
Beat the crap out of people while simultaneously wearing your arms out.

SWAT: Target Liberty (PSP)
Take out terrorists threatening NYC.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Game of the Year Edition (PS3)
Together again for the first time... on the PS3

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core (WII)
All hail Bridget.

Magic Club's Console Stickers Makes Things Pretty

Guanqiao was showing off their line of prettifying console stickers on the show floor. The stickers come in either pre-designed packs for any of the current consoles or portable, or you can design your own art. I wasn't super impressed with the DS Lite stickers, but the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 stuff looked kinda zupear koole.

Conan Gets All Magical

The Legend of Kage Brings Ninja Magic Back To DS

After twenty years, Taito has finally decided to follow up on the original arcade game The Legend of Kage with the cleverly titled The Legend of Kage 2, proving anything can happen when we're talking about the Nintendo DS. Taito is adding dual screen platforming action and some thirty ninja skills to the Legend of Kage formula, destined to hit Japanese store shelves in February of next year. Gpara has tons of in-game screens and loads of artwork at which you may gawk.

For those of you unfamiliar with or not alive for the first Legend of Kage, you have two easy, legal ways to play it. The original arcade release is included in Taito Legends Volume 2 for the PlayStation 2 and PC, with the NES port available on the Wii's Virtual Console since February. Great games? Not necessarily, but they're indisputably ninja-riffic.

The Legend of Kage 2 [Gpara]

Vanillaware, whose latest gorgeous 2D games include Odin Sphere, pictured above, and GrimGrimoire for the PlayStation 2 have announced their latest game, this time for the Nintendo Wii. The latest issue of Famitsu, by way of 1UP, reveals that Oboro Muramasa Youtouden will follow in the 2D tradition, with a feudal Japan era setting that's loaded with paranormal enemies and mystical creatures. The best news? You play as one of two ninja.

No date is set for Oboro Muramasa Youtouden's Wii-mote swinging adventure, but we pray to the video game gods that we see more at TGS.

Vanillaware Unveils Wii Action Game [1UP]

A SEGA Game Guaranteed to Wreck Relationships