GRID and DiRT are aimed at an arcade audience and they do that very well. F1 has different requirements and will get a completely different treatment from our in-house team, including full on sim options, physics, rules and regs etc. We will also have arcade requirements catered for as well. How this will be split we do not know yet, but split it will be.

No word on whether they'll also include team spying and nazi sex dungeons, but we can only hope.

This is the End of F-1 game! [Codemasters, via Voodoo Extreme] [Pic]

Operation Flashpoint 2 blown open [PC Gamer, via CVG]

Ed Relf, Director of Marketing, Codemasters Online commented, "We are pleased to be able to set out our exciting new expansion plans for ArchLord. As recently announced ArchLord is now more popular than ever with thousands of new players taking up the challenge every day to compete to become the games all-ruling leader!

Episode 3 is due to go live "in the coming weeks".

Codemasters Online Reveal Expansion Plans for ArchLord MMO

ArchLord, the popular subscription-free MMORPG readies for all-new free game content.

Friday, 20th June (2pm GMT) – Codemasters Online are pleased to reveal that their popular free MMORPG ArchLord will be receiving an overhaul in the shape of the all-new, FREE Expansion Episode 3: Spirits Awakening. Due to go live in the coming weeks, Episode 3: Spirits Awakening adds up to 30% new game content to the existing game when this free update goes live.

ArchLord Episode 3: Spirits Awakening adds a number of new features & free game content including:
• New game content – Up to 30% all-new game content
• All new zones – 3 new game zones for players to challenge
• New class skills – Over 80 new skills
• ArchLord abilities – New ruling ArchLord skills and abilities
• New armour & items – New collectible armour sets with unique stats
• New monsters & enemies – New monsters and zone bosses

Ed Relf, Director of Marketing, Codemasters Online commented, "We are pleased to be able to set out our exciting new expansion plans for ArchLord. As recently announced ArchLord is now more popular than ever with thousands of new players taking up the challenge every day to compete to become the games all-ruling leader! Episode 3 adds a significant amount of new content to what is already a leading free MMORPG and we look forward to delivering this free expansion to our players in the coming weeks."

ArchLord is a premier free online role-playing game allowing players to download and play the game for free with no monthly subscriptions or commitments. The online game challenges thousands of players each month to raise an army, to compete to become the game's all-ruling ArchLord and with it control of the entire game world impacting on the lives of thousands of players online.

"For over 20 years David and Richard led Codemasters as it became one of the video game industry's great British success stories," said Rod Cousens, present head of Codemasters.

"Their drive and passion for creating the best in interactive entertainment will always be part of the industry's heritage and this recognition is well deserved."

Good show, Darlings. The British video game industry wouldn't have been the same without you two. Enjoy those badges!

'Darlings' of UK games honoured [BBC via CVG]

I guess you'd call it a little bit action, a little bit RPG (but mostly action). The rep who showed me the game told me it's based in good old Gods-and-heroes Greek myth, but takes a little liberty with the canonical facts. For example, the hero is Jason, he of Golden Fleece fame, and in the game, his wife has been killed and he's seeking the fabled Fleece in order to resurrect her. If Kratos has learned us anything, it's that dead wives plus mythology equals a recipe for high drama and pathos.

The scene I saw featured Jason in a coliseum-style battle against some armored Ionians, and it was deliciously gory - when Jason clove torsoes with bloody abandon, you could see the severed spine in the middle, just like a rib-eye.

Fahey posted the trailer last year, during which he said he was glad that Jason was finally getting a video game (instead of just being Cerberus food in Kratos' hero tale). Some neat traits make this title look to be a lot more than a God of War knockoff, though:

For one thing, it's not all fighting. Jason gets his powers from four different gods, who afford him strength boosts to different aspects when he earns their favor. One way to do this is in selecting responses in conversation. When you're confronted, or talking to someone, you get a little convo wheel (think Mass Effect), and you choose one of four different responses, each associated with a particular god. If you choose the aggressive response, for example, Jason will deck the offender across the mouth and you'll get a little boost from Ares, the god of war.

Moreover, you can't please them all - brown-nosing one deity will piss off others.

One cool side aspect involves dedicating your deeds to different gods, too - there are achievement-like lists of objectives you can fulfill, such as killing a certain number of enemies or performing certain tasks in the game, and if you accomplish one, you can visit a shrine to choose the god to which you'll dedicate the completed deed. Visiting the statues also shows you a list of the possible objectives you can fulfill, so it looks to add a little bit of optional goal-oriented gameplay to the experience.

One thing I'd actually never seen before in a game like this (not saying it hasn't happened, just that I've never seen it) is that you can actually turn off the on-screen displays, like health indicators and weapons and all of that, and just play the game with only the action in front of you. The rep told me they wanted to provide this option in order to enhance player immersion. How do you know, then, when you're low on life? The screen is ringed with a red haze.

It was interesting to see some ideas for innovating on the genre by adding RPG-influenced elements, and the character models were really detailed, too.

"What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than spend it with your loved ones in the greatest fantasy world ever created?" said David Solari Vice President of Codemasters Online. "We invite fathers to come and enjoy the festivities that will we be running all day to mark this special occasion.”

See? there's a man who knows you can't write about a special Father's Day event without using the phrase "What better way".

Players are encouraged to use the free trial at TryLotRO.com to get their dads online. Start downloading now so you can spend a lazy Sunday explaining the WASD keys to your father before giving up in frustration and taking him out to Chili's. Mmmm, Chili's.

Codemasters Online Celebrates Father's Day in The Lord of the Rings Online

Codemasters Online invite players to Celebrate Father's Day together in Middle-earth.
June 11th, 2008 - Codemasters Online are inviting fathers from across the UK to celebrate this year’s Father’s Day in virtual style by taking part in the Father’s Day celebrations set to take place across Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings Online.

Taking place on June 15th, Codemasters Online will be running a series of in-game Father’s Day events designed to celebrate this special occasion including father and sons fishing, music and fireworks as well as ad hoc competitions and challenges taking place throughout the day. Fathers are invited to attend these events with their sons and daughters and take part in the online festivities with the thousands of other players in Middle-earth.

"What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than spend it with your loved ones in the greatest fantasy world ever created?" said David Solari Vice President of Codemasters Online. "We invite fathers to come and enjoy the festivities that will we be running all day to mark this special occasion.”

The celebrations are open to both existing and new players to The Lord of the Rings Online. New players can download the free trial now at www.trylotro.com to take part in the day’s festivities.

For more information on the Father’s Day celebrations visit the game’s official European community portal www.lotro-europe.com

"The recent success of key western titles in Japan is indicative of the current trend where Japanese gamers are not only more aware of popular western gaming brands but actively seeking them out," continued Cousens. "With Race Driver: GRID set to be fully localized and arrive bundled with Colin McRae: DIRT, it is an opportune time for Codemasters to enjoy brand success in Japan."

Two games for the price of one should certainly get the Japanese market's attention. Best of luck, Codemasters!

RACE DRIVER: GRIDTM TO DRIVE CODEMASTERS'® PUBLISHING INTERESTS IN JAPAN.

JAPANESE EDITION OF HIT RACER NOW IN PRODUCTION

Race Driver: GRID™ the all-new exhilarating racing experience from Codemasters Studios, recently launched in the U.S. and throughout Europe to critical acclaim, is to be fully localised for release in Japan later this year, Codemasters® announced today.

One of the highest rated racing videogames of recent years†, Race Driver: GRID already features Japanese specific content, including Drift and Touge race events and locations that include Tokyo Shibuya, Yokohama and Haruna.

The PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® editions of game will now be adapted to include Japanese speech and text throughout in readiness for its arrival in the market this winter.

"As Codemasters continues to gain significant ground in the global videogame business, the release of Race Driver: GRID in Japan will also see the arrival of the Codemasters brand as a publishing label in the market," said Rod Cousens, CEO, Codemasters. "We have pursued options in the market for some time and this announcement is but a first indication of our ambitions in that market."

On release, the Japanese edition of Race Driver: GRID will come complete with a full copy of the flagship off-road racer, Colin McRae: DiRT™. The dual offering is expected to be well received; earlier Race Driver and Colin McRae titles have enjoyed success in the market when published under licence.

"The recent success of key western titles in Japan is indicative of the current trend where Japanese gamers are not only more aware of popular western gaming brands but actively seeking them out," continued Cousens. "With Race Driver: GRID set to be fully localised and arrive bundled with Colin McRae: DIRT, it is an opportune time for Codemasters to enjoy brand success in Japan."

Witness my early attempts at racing here with Codemasters' new multi-format racer GRID, or Race Driver: GRID for you folks in Europe, who apparently need the extra clarification. It's quite sad, but at least I'm having fun, right? As I mention in the video, look for a full review next week, once I get into the swing of things.

Ed Relf, Director of Marketing, Codemasters Online commented, “This is a key milestone in the growth of ArchLord. ArchLord is a premier free-to-play MMORPG offering significantly more depth and quality than most other free-to-play games and this recent achievement solidifies our commitment to the ongoing development and success of ArchLord.”

Codemasters will be opening a new game world in response to the overwhelming influx of players, to be ready in time for their Episode 3 content update later this year.

So, who among us plays ArchLord?

ArchLord Exceeds ½ Million Milestone

ArchLord, the popular subscription-free MMORPG exceeds 500k players across the West
Thursday, 22nd May – Codemasters Online is pleased to announce they have opened the doors to their 500,000th player of its popular subscription-free MMORPG, ArchLord.

Since moving to free-to-play, ArchLord has seen explosive new player growth over recent months with more players than ever taking on the challenge to compete to become the all-conquering ArchLord and with it rule the entire game world.

Ed Relf, Director of Marketing, Codemasters Online commented, “This is a key milestone in the growth of ArchLord. ArchLord is a premier free-to-play MMORPG offering significantly more depth and quality than most other free-to-play games and this recent achievement solidifies our commitment to the ongoing development and success of ArchLord.”

To cope with the increased popularity for the game, Codemasters Online will shortly be opening an all-new game world to cope with the game’s substantially increased demand as they gear up for the next free content update Episode 3 due in the coming months.

ArchLord is a premier free-to-play online role-playing game allowing players to download and play the game for free with no monthly subscriptions or commitments. The online game challenges thousands of players each month to raise an army, to compete to become the game’s all-ruling ArchLord and with it control of the entire game world impacting on the lives of thousands of ArchLord players.

To download ArchLord the premier free-to-play MMORPG visit the game’s official website www.archlordgame.com

The game also boasts a new online ranking system that tracks your career and awards experience points based on achievements you reach. For those of us who love racing but suck at it, the game will also feature spectator mode, allowing us to watch jealously as more competent players master hairpin curves that we'd normally be eating.

Race Driver: GRID ships May 30th for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in Europe and June 3rd stateside.

Fierce 12-player online races with full car damage - Race Driver: GRID's multiplayer details confirmed.

Wednesday, 14th May - Reflecting the ethos, spirit and attitude of the offline game, Race Driver: GRID will bring a world of motorsport to life online as Codemasters® today announced that the game's multiplayer content will feature 32 exhilarating online race events on 80 circuits at 15 intercontinental locations.

Featuring up to 12-player events with incredible full car damage, Race Driver: GRID's online multiplayer races will see gamers competing in aggressive races on iconic city streets and famous championship circuits across Europe, the U.S. and Japan.

"Race Driver: GRID online is the ultimate expression of what the game is all about - incident-packed, aggressive, wheel-to-wheel racing," said Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer, Race Driver: GRID. "Our wide range of motorsport disciplines, stunning locations and full damage 12-player races make for a uniquely spectacular race experience and our immersive new ranking system rewards player skill and deepens the challenge online."

Players will be able to take their custom livery online and make it feared and respected by competing in a huge range of racing disciplines; from drifting around Yokohama Docks, charging through the mean streets of Detroit, racing touring cars around Spa-Francorchamps to competing in chaotic demolition derbies.

The pure race experience is at the heart of Race Driver GRID's gameplay and, in online multiplayer, everything is geared towards maximising player time spent on track and minimising time spent in lobbies. Players can rapidly find the event they want and a slick voting system, matchmaking mechanism and seamless host migration means gamers find competitive races quickly and sessions stay together longer.

An innovative new online ranking system charts players' progress as they advance from Junior Rookie to Legend, with experience points being awarded based on a wide range of achievements, from events won to beating higher ranked opponents.

As players rise through the rankings, online leaderboards record the fastest laps for each track and gamers can download ghost cars to test out their skill against the best in the world in Test Drive mode or check out the competition in Spectator mode. Players can also fully customise their game including switching damage on or off, enabling catch-up mode, setting driver aids and allowing public and private games.

Race Driver: GRID is coming May 30th (Europe/PAL) for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games For Windows®. A Nintendo DS™ edition will follow. Race Driver: GRID playable demos - featuring two online multiplayer events - are now available from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, PLAYSTATION®Network and, for the Games For Windows demo, please visit www.racedrivergrid.com

Calling the license "the jewel in Codemasters' racing crown," the developer-publisher said that snagging the license is a victory for its proprietary EGO game engine and a vote of confidence in its leadership in the racing game segment. As Formula 1 develops more international circuits, it's looking to expand its consumer reach, and seems to have chosen video games as an avenue.

Full release follows the jump.

Codemasters Studios to drive new generation of FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games across multiple formats.

Codemasters®, developer and publisher of award-winning racing video games, has secured the exclusive video game rights to FORMULA 1 it was announced today. In a worldwide licensing agreement with Formula One Administration Limited, Codemasters will develop a new generation of the multi-million selling FORMULA 1 game franchise across multiple platforms.
Codemasters Studios, creators of genre-leading racing titles Colin McRae: DiRT™ and Race Driver: GRID™, will lead the design and development of official FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games for home console, handheld and PC gaming formats.
"FORMULA 1 is ambitious in expanding its reach with more circuits planned beyond recent additions in the Middle East and China. It is also ambitious in expanding its reach via technology. The digital communities that computer and video gaming creates will play a key role in further growing the FORMULA 1 audience and connecting them globally," said Rod Cousens, chief executive officer, Codemasters.
"As a world-leading creator of driving games, this alliance with FORMULA 1 is the jewel in Codemasters' racing crown and creates an undisputed segment champion. FORMULA 1 has gone with the best, the segment leader. It has gone to the home of the EGO Engine for quality; it has gone to the company that can host FORMULA 1 Online, to the company that is streaking away from the pack."
"Codemasters' success and recent innovations in the racing game space makes the company more than appropriately tuned for the challenge," said Chris Deering, chairman, Codemasters."The combination of FORMULA 1's new momentum of expansion and Codemasters' contemporary technology and past experience is the breaking of a new dawn for the sport, on the track and on the HD game screen."
The worldwide deal provides Codemasters with rights to feature all Grand Prix circuits, FORMULA 1 teams, cars, and driver likenesses.
The FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games will be developed using the evolution of the award-winning EGO™ Game Technology Engine, Codemasters' highly versatile cross-platform middleware technology. Its advanced graphics and physics technology brings an unmatched cinematic quality and realism to interactive entertainment.
The EGO Engine is currently being deployed in the creation of Race Driver: GRID™, the latest in Codemasters Studio's international circuit-based racing series. Set to be a landmark release when it launches on May 30th, Race Driver: GRID was recently hailed as"The driving game of the summer" by BBC Top Gear magazine.
Codemasters expects the first game based on the FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP to launch in 2009.

We always had a five year plan and it was always in the middle of that five year plan that we would start developing our own games. We are looking at that and we have to think very carefully about what title is right, what will work in the future.

MMO Week: Codemasters to bring MMO development in-house [GamesIndustry.biz]

"In seizing this opportunity, we have created additional resources to escalate our plans in the racing segment," said Rod Cousens, chief executive, Codemasters. "We hope to welcome more than 40 people to the company and we have enjoyed the full co-operation of our friends at Sega in making this happen.

David Solari, Vice President of Codemasters Online Gaming commented, "We are very excited to be partnering with one of the top developers and publishers of casual gaming content in the world. The LUXOR and 7 Wonders brands have seen enormous success at US retail, and we look forward to replicating that success across Europe."

Codemasters Online, MumboJumbo Team Up to Release New Casual Games Across Europe

European-wide distribution deal to launch 10 titles in April

April 4th, 2008 - Codemasters Online and leading casual game developer and publisher, MumboJumbo™, have joined forces to bring premium casual games to Europe. With the distribution partnership, the two companies will publish and market an initial catalogue of 10 premium casual games throughout the European market.

Set for release on April 25th, this new range of titles will be published under the Funsta label, building on the established online Funsta.com casual games portal, and reinforce Codemasters Online's ongoing commitment to the growing casual games market.

The initial launch of premium casual titles will consist of 10 games, including worldwide hits such as LUXOR and 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. The LUXOR franchise alone boasts over 65 million worldwide downloads and sold more than 700,000 units in North America retail since it originally launched in 2005.

David Solari, Vice President of Codemasters Online Gaming commented, "We are very excited to be partnering with one of the top developers and publishers of casual gaming content in the world. The LUXOR and 7 Wonders brands have seen enormous success at US retail, and we look forward to replicating that success across Europe."

"We are thrilled to launch our range of games with Codemasters Online, their expertise and in-depth knowledge of the European marketplace is invaluable and we think that the great titles we have to bring to the table will make for a very successful partnership," said Mark Cottam, CEO of MumboJumbo.

The full line of games being launched includes LUXOR 2, 7 Wonders II, Poker Superstars II, Slingo Quest, Gemsweeper and Jewel Quest for the PC. Additionally, LUXOR Pharaoh's Challenge, 7 Wonders of the Ancient World and Platypus will be made available across various consoles including the Sony PS2, PSP, Nintendo DS™, and Wii™.

The catalogue of games will be priced at £9.99 / €14.99 on PC and £19.99 / €29.99 on console.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™: Mines of moria™ unveiled at connect 08

Volume II of the 2007 PC Game of the Year Expected to Arrive at Retail This Fall

BIRMINGHAM, UK - March 14, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. and Codemasters Online today unveiled Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online™, the first retail expansion for the award-winning massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG). Announced in Birmingham, the childhood home of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria™ will expand the online world of Middle-earth to let players explore the ancient underground cities of the dwarves, battle epic characters in the depths, face off with the Watcher, be a part of the fateful release of Durin's Bane and more! The Lord of the Rings Online expects to open Volume II of its epic story in the fall of 2008 with an increased level cap, two new classes and the introduction of a unique item advancement system.

"The Mines of Moria is one of the most epic settings in all of fantasy fiction," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "No one delivers more quality content than Turbine and with our journey into Moria, we will raise the bar even higher. We are adding vast amounts of content, debuting massive new environments and unveiling numerous unique feature sets, like item advancement, which will create entirely new dimensions of compelling game play and social interaction which are unique to The Lord of the Rings Online experience."

NEW FEATURES:

Ø Speak Friend, and Enter - Moria, called Khazad-dûm by the dwarves, was their capital and the grandest of cities. This enormous underground cavern in north-western Middle-earth, comprises an immense network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls that run beneath and ultimately through the Misty Mountains. For the first time, players of The Lord of the Rings Online will enter this ancient city which has served as the foundation for the modern-day dungeon-crawling adventures to battle the hordes of goblins and the Nameless of the Deep and journey through hundreds of new quests within six new kinds of stunning environments.

Ø The Epic Continues! — The Mines of Moria represents the beginning of Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online. Players can experience six new books as part of this update and participate in the release of Durin's Bane, battle the Watcher, aid Galadriel and more!

Ø Increased Level Cap — Players will be able advance their characters up to level 60, gaining access to new traits, virtues, skills and class quests. The crafting system will also expand, giving players the ability to craft even more powerful items.

Ø Discover Two New Classes — The Rune-keeper and the Warden, the first new classes to be introduced since the launch of the game, allow players to build exciting and powerful new characters in The Lord of the Rings Online in diverse new ways.

Ø Forge Legendary Items - The Mines of Moria will introduce Turbine's new item advancement system to The Lord of the Rings Online. Players will be able to forge weapons and class-related equipment and evolve them to build a legacy the likes of Bilbo's Sting and Gandalf's Glamdring. These legendary weapons will level-up along with the player, allowing customization by advancing the item's virtues, adding runic legacies, modifying its titles and forming fables.

To celebrate this exciting news, Turbine and Codemasters also announced today that they will kick off a major promotion that invites everyone to unlock the Mines of Moria by visiting http://www.unlocktheminesofmoria.com. Visitors can learn more about Mines of Moria and play special mini-games that will be periodically released over the coming months. Certain players who participate can complete special deeds through game play and other means to unlock exclusive previews, assets and special in-game items that may help them when they delve into Mines of Moria this fall. The Unlock the Mines of Moria promotion is scheduled to begin at the end of this month.

Overlord PS3 confirmed - exclusive screens [CVG]

Exclusive Armour set for every connect attendee! [RF Online Forums]

Codemasters Online Partners with NetDevil to Bring New MMO for 2008!

Codemasters Online set to release NetDevil's all-new space based MMORPG Jumpgate Evolution for North America / Europe.

29th January (2pm GMT) - Codemasters Online have today unveiled their next generation MMORPG set for release in 2008, Jumpgate. Developed by the US-based experienced MMOG developer NetDevil, Jumpgate is a space-based MMO incorporating all-new action style gameplay like never seen before in any previous online game.

'We are very pleased to be working with NetDevil to release this exciting project across North America & Europe. Jumpgate brings something new and fresh to the online persistent space," commented David Solari, Vice President, Codemasters Online. "The all-action approach and thrilling, twitch-based space combat really sets it apart from other MMOs in the market and we are very much looking forward to releasing this space epic in late 2008."

Jumpgate is the definitive space combat MMO allowing players to choose from one of three playable nations and engage in an intense action-packed universe. Embarking on an immersive and accessible space adventure players can trade valuable commodities, take part in dangerous outer-space raids, meet and play with friends and live out the dream to become an elite hero or infamous space pirate. The game features both a rich and varied universe to explore and has been designed for experienced and novice MMO players alike.

"We're really excited about this relationship. Codemasters has already established themselves as a premium game developer and publisher; as well as one of the most successful MMO operators in the business. Very few companies have those kinds of credentials." commented Scott Brown, President of NetDevil. "This combination of experience and dedication is a perfect fit for NetDevil and we are thrilled to be working with such a great partner."

Codemasters Online have confirmed that they will be the exclusive publisher / operator of this next generation MMO across Europe and will be working along with NetDevil to bring the game to the North American market.

For more information on Jumpgate visit www.jumpgateevolution.com

The first thing Spark Unlimited did wrong was give us the same opening scene we've seen countless times in teasers, trailers, and behind the scenes clips. The Nazi invasion of New York is certainly an important part of the game, but there is no real impact for the player if they've already watched it played out countless times. As Luke summarized in the previous article, "give players a taste of the game's strengths, not simply the first 15 minutes of the game." This demo keenly illustrates this point.

Games rarely snag a player's full attention within the first 15 minutes, especially when all you are really getting is a tutorial on gameplay mechanics using the weakest weapons available versus the dumbest enemies possible. I am almost certain that Germany and its allies wouldn't have made it across the pond if their crack soldiers opted to hide around the corner from every construction worker who stumbles upon a gun. Then again, maybe they were briefed beforehand. "If you see an American construction worker, avoid them at all costs. Same with florists and plucky news boys." Probably not.

The graphics and general atmosphere are alright I suppose, but nothing that really leaves a lasting impression on my brain. Perhaps later in the game the visuals perk up and we get a better taste of the unique flavor of 1950's America hinted at on the game's website, but aside from a few architectural choices and the very last scene of the demo, Fall of Liberty could really have been set in any time period.

Gameplay is rather standard shooter fare, with a few nifty platforming elements dropped in here and there. The level design in the first bit is completely linear - even when it looks like you have a choice you can be sure a stray bomb or exploding gas tank will lead you by the nose to the next checkpoint. Bleh.

If the Turning Point: Fall of Liberty demo did anything, it made me much more apt to listen to anything David Edery has to say. Give me a nice chunk of gameplay in the middle of the game, with more powerful weapons, tougher enemies, and basically just glimpses of what's in store for me further down the line if I was to purchase your game. In this case the demo might have done more harm than good.

Ed Relf, Director of Marketing, Codemasters Online commented "This is just one of many exclusives we are lining up for lucky visitors to Codemasters Online Connect this year! The support for Connect 2008 is growing rapidly since its announcement this week and we look forward to unveiling both this and further exclusives during this 2-day gaming festival.

Codemasters Online to Unveil New MMO at Forthcoming Connect Event

New MMO to be fully playable at forthcoming Codemasters Online Connect Event

Codemasters Online announced today that the company's new blockbuster MMO game, scheduled for release in late 2008, will be unveiled at the forthcoming Connect 2008 online gaming event. The new MMO will be fully playable for the first time at Connect 2008 in a world exclusive for the event!

Ed Relf, Director of Marketing, Codemasters Online commented "This is just one of many exclusives we are lining up for lucky visitors to Codemasters Online Connect this year! The support for Connect 2008 is growing rapidly since its announcement this week and we look forward to unveiling both this and further exclusives during this 2-day gaming festival.

Taking place on March 14th / 15th, Connect 2008 is Codemasters Online's premier gaming event spanning all of Codemasters Online's gaming titles including The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™, ArchLord, RF Online, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS™ ONLINE: Stormreach™ and much much more!

For more information or so sign up for advance ticket alerts visit www.codemastersconnect.com

Sensible World of Soccer now available for download [Microsoft]

We'll make sure to pass on word so "football" fans can get their kicks online as soon as possible.

Arcade: Sensible World of Soccer [Microsoft]

Says Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer. "GRID focuses on everything that happens between the start grid and the chequered flag: the drama, the rivalries, the aggression and the crashes. This is not a game about collecting cars or spending all of your time in the front-end tuning suspension settings or designing liveries. We want to make racing exciting again."

Codemasters Studios to shift race gaming to a higher gear with Race Driver: GRID.

Race Driver: GRID confirmed as official title for intense new racing experience coming mid 2008 from the creators of Colin McRae: DiRT and Race Driver series.

Codemasters® today announced Race Driver: GRID™ as the full and official title for the game introduced under the working title of Race Driver One. Race Driver: GRID is the new racing experience from Codemasters Studios, creators of Colin McRae: DiRT™ and the Race Driver™ series, and is set to deliver a step-change in the racing genre.

Coming mid 2008, Race Driver: GRID is set to capture every moment from the starting grid to the chequered flag and concentrate those moments into an intense and dramatic race experience. Race Driver: GRID is being developed for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows®.

"Race Driver: GRID is all about the race." said Gavin Raeburn, Executive Producer at Codemasters Studios. "The next iteration of our DiRT engine combined with a decade of experience in developing driving games enables us to put the player at the centre of the action like never before. Damage, packed grids, intelligent opposition and unprecedented race day atmosphere will combine to deliver an experience like no other.

Says Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer. "GRID focuses on everything that happens between the start grid and the chequered flag: the drama, the rivalries, the aggression and the crashes. This is not a game about collecting cars or spending all of your time in the front-end tuning suspension settings or designing liveries. We want to make racing exciting again."

Race Driver: GRID will take players to beautifully realised and dramatic race locations over three continents to compete in an unprecedented variety of racing events. Packed with the most powerful race cars - new and classic, circuit and drift - players will compete to conquer the most prestigious official race tracks and championships and then go beyond to compete in challenging city-based competitions, through to road events and urban street races.

In Europe, race gamers will compete on the greatest official tracks in prestige Marques including Aston Martin, Koenigsegg and Pagani.

Iconic cities across the U.S. - including San Francisco, Washington DC and Detroit and each with their own atmosphere and events - play hosts to diverse street races. Here, high-performance V8 muscle cars set the pace in aggressive closely fought pack competitions.

In the Far East, Japanese racing culture sets the tone where night races, including Drift racing, take drivers through neon illuminated cities and to outlying mountain roads. There is also the opportunity to compete in races that operate on the fringes of legality in the back streets and industrial areas of Yokohama.

Race Driver: GRID is coming mid 2008 for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows. To register for future driver briefings and get a place on the grid, be sure to visit www.codemasters.co.uk/grid

SWOS on XBLA: 19th December *CONFIRMED* [Codemasters Community Forums via CVG]

Turning Point: Fall of Liberty - The Website [Codemasters]

RF Online Opens New World as Demand Reaches Unprecedented Levels!

Unprecedented demand sees Codemasters Online open another new world due to huge popularity for this free-to-play MMORPG.

Thursday, 8th November (2pm GMT) - Codemasters Online are thrilled to announce the opening of another new world for their hugely popular 100% free MMORPG RF Online. The new world known as "Solus" will open its gates as a surge of new players join the RF Online service.

Since the switch to free to play two weeks ago, RF Online has achieved unprecedented levels of success as players come from far and wide to declare their allegiance and battle it out for control of Novus.

"To open our 2nd new world in the space of two weeks is a tremendous success and testament to the ever increasing player base and their loyalty to the game. The current demand for RF Online is far exceeding our own expectations and the active player base continues to increase week upon week." commented Adam McGowan, Global Product Marketing Manager, Codemasters Online."

Following the opening of "Solus", Codemasters Online are now preparing for the games next free update due to launch in the coming months currently named "Planet Wars". This completely free expansion will see players take to the skies in fast paced action space combat as they pilot their ships through space and venture to all new planets and systems.

RF Online, the completely free MMORPG is an epic mix of traditional fantasy and futuristic Sci-Fi set in the deep space galaxy of Novus where three races compete in an ultimate struggle for power and resource.

To download RF Online now visit www.rf-onlinegame.com

Be extra evil this November as Codemasters announces OverlordTM: Raising Hell as part of new downloadable content.

One free and two premium downloadable content packs coming soon for OverlordTM on Xbox 360.

Unleashing the wondrously evil Overlord and his army of lethal minions for a fresh round of malicious mayhem, Codemasters today announced the forthcoming release of three downloadable content packs for Overlord™, the summer's hit action adventure from Triumph Studios.

The all-new content will be available this November from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox™ 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and comprise of one free and two premium download packs.

The premium downloadable content is led by Overlord™: Raising Hell, an expansion pack that adds all-new single-player levels to the original game. An additional premium pack, the Overlord™: Challenge Pack will deliver a set of all-new online multiplayer maps. Microsoft Points pricing for the two premium content packs will be confirmed at launch. A further downloadable content update will also be available free of charge. This will add split-screen play to all the original game's multiplayer maps and introduce an all-new multiplayer Survival map.

Premium and Free Downloadable Content Details:

OVERLORD™: RAISING HELL - Premium Downloadable content
Prepare to go deeper into the Overlord's twisted world as this single-player expansion pack opens a series of hellish new levels. Complete with new enemies and objectives, each new level is a supernatural abyss - a hell for each of the game's five kingdoms: Mellow Hills, Evernight, Heaven's Peak, the Golden Halls and the Ruborian Desert.

Access to each abyss is via a portal, which opens once a kingdom has been successfully conquered and the previous ruler banished to a personal hell within. However it's not just the fallen heroes that have been dragged into the abyss: the Overlord's newly loyal peasants have also been taken down into hell too.

With the undead denizens of each abyss on the attack and threatening the Overlord's reign above ground, there's only one thing for it: assemble your minion army, descend into each abyss and embark on a fresh wave of tyranny in order to return the serfs to their homelands, defeat the fallen heroes once and for all, and claim the throne of each kingdom's underworld.

OVERLORD™: CHALLENGE PACK - Premium Downloadable content.
This additional premium download content pack is ideal for Overlords who really have something to prove. There's pillaging fun with seven new online multiplayer maps, including the competitive 'Capture the Maiden' map and 'Protect Your Power', where players must defend the Overlord's tower against waves of enemy attack.

Putting minions through their toughest workout, the Challenge pack also introduces a "Legendary" difficulty mode, which challenges players to achieve Legendary status by using their most aggressive minion managing skills to complete the game under exceptional bad-ass circumstances.

OVERLORD™: SPLIT-SCREEN MULTIPLAYER PACK - Free Downloadable Content.
The free update will be available alongside the premium packs and will enable players to go head to head in an all-new split screen multiplayer mode. In addition to providing split screen play on all of the game's original multiplayer maps, the update will also introduce a new multiplayer map, Rocky Race, which sees a pair of Overlords working cooperatively to survive the onslaught of an arch rock giant on the rampage.

All three content packs are set to be available this November from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360, with Microsoft Point pricing to be announced. All three packs require players to have a full copy of Overlord for Xbox 360 in order to experience the additional content. For all the latest information and videos, be sure to visit www.codemasters.com/overlord

"RF Online is a great game with a strong community and by making the game free-to-play we're inviting absolutely everyone to come and enjoy this unique Sci-Fantasy online RPG," commented Kyle Rowley, Community Manager, Codemasters Online."

It's like Codemasters didn't even take the movie seriously or something. Shame, shame, shame on them. Nobody puts Baby in the corner, or makes her do stupid puzzle games. And if they bothered to watch the movie 87 times they'd know that.

Dirty Dancing: The Video Game Gameplay Montage [gametrailers]

"With consideration to and in agreement with McRae's family, there was a stop put on the TV ads that were planned to run on Sky channels at the weekend and through this week," said a spokesperson for Codemasters.

Codemasters pulls Colin McRae ad campaign [GamesIndustry.biz]

Colin McRae, 1968 - 2007

Everyone at Codemasters, especially those who worked directly with Colin McRae, is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events of this weekend.

The loss of Colin McRae is deeply distressing. That it involved his son and another so young makes it even more tragic. Our thoughts are with his family and those closest to him and we share in their pain.

For over ten years, Colin was part of the Codemasters family and it was a privilege to have a man recognised as a true legend on the team. He always took a keen interest in the game experience, wanting to make sure it was without equal in its portrayal of the sport.

His contribution was inspirational and brought his technical expertise and passion for rally driving to each and every McRae game. Through the popularity of those games, he brought a whole new audience to the sport itself.

Codemasters' relationship with Colin began through Jim, David and Richard Darling and their condolences, along with ours, are passed to Colin's family. We are heavy of heart at his passing but we are also brimming with pride at knowing him and to have played a small role in his life.

He will never be forgotten by all at Codemasters.

Our hearts go out to Colin's wife, daughter and the rest of his family and friends.

Rally champion Colin McRae dies with son in helicopter crash [Times Online]
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]