GAMES09: PS3 Slim Mohammed Ben Sulayem Bundle Announced

A new PS3 bundle for the UAE was announced at GAMES 09 today. The bundle will include: a 250GB PS3 Slim, a copy of DiRT 2, and a custom PS3 boxart designed on the legendary rally racer Mohammed Ben Sulayem. It will cost 1499Dhs. Here’s a pic:

GAMES09: Forza Motorsport 3 LE 360 Coming to UAE

At GAMES 09, it was announced that, like the COD: Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition 360 console, Forza 3 will get one too and at the same price. That is, for 1599 Dhs, you can get a Elite Xbox 360 with a 250GB HDD slapped on it with a copy of Forza 3 and two wireless controllers.

Oh and there is a pre-order campaign for it as well. Pre-order the normal edition and get a cap (269 Dhs). Pre-order the Limited Edition for 299 Dhs and get a bag and a chance to drive the Audi R8 at Dubai Autodrome.

Top 10 reasons to visit GAMES 09

1. Win a 370Z.
We love gamers, if we didn’t we wouldn’t have a website dedicated to them. It seems Codemasters and Pluto Games love them too. They’re offering a brand new Nissan 370Z as the grand prize for the Dirt 2 competition. The competition kicks off at GAMES 09.

2. Win 1200 games.
Pluto Games are giving away a free game to a lucky visitor every minute. Get your camping bags ready and prepare to queue up for free swag.

3. Fifa 10 and PES 2010.
Could a footy fan ask for more? Probably could, but this is sweet none the less. Both games will be showcased at the event. Don’t miss out.

4. PSP Go!
Be the first to check it out at GAMES 09.

5. DJ Hero.
Anything that’s endorsed by Daft Punk gets a thumbs up from us. We tried the game and it’s absolutely brilliant. Don’t believe us? Get behind the decks and try it for yourself.

6. Assasin’s Creed 2.
The original was good, the sequel looks a lot better.

7. Uncharted 2.
We’ve been begging for a review copy but haven’t received one yet. We’ve been told that it’s Game of the Year material. There’s a playable copy of the game at GAMES 09 but you may have to pry the controllers off our cold dead fingers first.

8. Loads More playable games.
Forza 3, Brutal Legends, Need for Speed Shift, Little Big Planet on PSP, Crackdown, Guitar Hero 5, Dirt 2, WET and loads more.

9. Modern Warfare 2 and Project Natal.
Alas, we’ve been told that they will not be playable but expect lots of videos.

10. It’s Free to attend.
Yup, if like us, you don’t have the social skills to attract a girlfriend or if you just like getting things for free, this is a little slice of heaven you can’t afford to miss out on.

GAMES 09 will be held at Dubai Festival City (below Toys R Us) from 1st to 3rd October. If you haven’t registered yet, please visit www.megamers.com/games to get your free invite.

GAMES09: PlayStation unveils 250GB PS3 and PSP Go!

With the start of the Games Alliance Middle East Show ’09 (GAMES ’09), Sony Gulf, PlayStation Division will be showcasing its latest innovations to gaming enthusiasts from around the region. Several of PlayStation’s latest technologies, including the new PS3 250 GB, PSPGo, PSN cards, and all new exciting game line-up will be unveiled for the first time in the region. So get ready to witness gaming taken to a whole new level!

PS3 250GB hard disc

Following the great success of the new, smaller, 120GB PS3, which sold over 1m units worldwide in its first three weeks on sale, the 250GB model has the same hardware specifications as the current model, but with greater storage space, to offer consumers even more choice. The 250GB PS3, with its larger storage capacity, will allow owners to take full advantage of the incredible software line-up and the many multimedia functions available on PS3, whether that is storing and viewing your family photographs, listening to your entire music collection in crisp quality, or watching your favourite movies. More storage allows you to download more of the latest games and add-ons from PlayStation®Store.

Also, don’t miss the exciting line-up of PlayStation®3 (PS3™) bundles for the holiday season, consisting of a PS3 with a 250GB hard disc drive and one of a selection of software and content, including FIFA 2010 Bundle, Dirt2 Bundle (both coming out on the 4th of October) and Blu-ray bundle (including 2 Blu-ray movies, Batman The Dark Knight and X-men Origin Wolverine in addition to a Blu-ray remote controller) coming out in mid-October. The bundles will be available at a retail price of AED 1,499.

PSP GO

The highlight of the exhibition is the launch of the new PSP®go (PlayStation®Portable) (PSP-N1000), launched in the region today. The new device is a new evolution of PSP handheld entertainment system, specifically designed to suit the digital lifestyle of consumers who enjoy downloadable content on the go. PSPgo is available in Piano Black and Pearl White colours at a recommended retail price (RRP) of AED999 .

PSPgo users can also enjoy the PSPgo Rewards where they can download three much-loved PSP titles for free, and put their new PSPgo to the test. Pick your favourites from a number of popular PSP titles. Get in on the action with Killzone™: Liberation or SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3. Give your reflexes a pounding with WipEout® Pure. Put your skills to the test with Everybody’s Golf™ or echochrome™. Give your brain a workout with Buzz!™: Brain Bender or Master Quiz. Or get quirky, with LocoRoco™ or Patapon™.

But the rewards do not stop here…

Within 10 days of purchase, all PSPgo users who register on the PSNetwork will be entitled to a download of GT-PSP, for free! So hurry up, and indulge in the PSPgo fever! PlayStation Network: PlayStation Network: Global registrants now at 27 million, PAL registrants at 11.1 million Connection rate of 60 per cent [all markets] Global downloads in excess of 560 million [all markets] Total value of sales of $280 million. After the tremendous success of the PlayStation Network with more than 27 million registrants worldwide and global downloads in excess of 560 million from the PlayStation Store; PlayStation Network Cards are now launched in the UAE to make online gaming even more accessible and exciting. The new cards will open the PlayStation®Store to non-credit card holders, giving everyone access to the online games and entertainment store packed with thousands of the exciting titles and entertainment options.

The cards will be available in USD 20 and USD 50 denominations from mid-October. A perfect gift solution, the cards cater for every interest, enabling purchase of exclusive games, new SingStar® tracks from SingStore® as well as clothes, accessories and apartments in the virtual world of PlayStation®Home.

GAMES09: Xbox 360 line-up at GAMES 09

Microsoft Xbox 360 is displaying the best in soon to launch blockbuster titles at this year’s GAMES 09 exhibition at Dubai Festival City. Gaming fans and visitors have the elite chance to play ‘Forza Motorsport 3’, ‘Halo 3: ODST’, and ‘LIPS Number 1 Hits’. For the first time in the Middle East, Xbox 360 has one of the most anticipated racing games running at the stand, Forza Motorsport 3, scheduled to launch October 23, 2009. Commemorating the launch, a pre-order promotion is available entitling a special edition Forza Motorsport 3 hat, and messenger bag with every order made.

“We want to show the community what lies ahead for Xbox 360, and give them the exclusive chance to have hands-on experience with games yet to be officially released,” said Armagan Demir, Head of Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division Middle East. “We think it will be a great turn out this year, and fans will not be disappointed with our blockbuster titles, competitions, and promotions available at the Microsoft Xbox 360 stand.” With some of the best known songs in the industry, visitors can let the rest of Dubai know on their talent with the LIPS singing competition. Participants have the opportunity to choose a song from a wide selection available and sing their hearts out earning points for being on key. Singers accumulating the most points will walk away with fantastic Xbox 360 prizes. Fans can leave an avatar representation of themselves, and join the ‘Xbox 360 Gamers Unite’ billboard by visiting the stand. One lucky participant will also win Xbox 360 prizes and giveaways towards the end of the show.

GAMES09: Follow us at GAMES 09 on Twitter

Yup, GAMES 09 is here and it’s officially underway with the Trade Day for press and media today. As you would expect, MEGamers are here and we are covering the show, typing away like crazy junkies on Twitter. So be sure to follow us at it: http://twitter.com/mideastgamers

We will continue our coverage for the next three days, from October 1-3, when the real meat of the show begins. We will have tons of news, previews, hands-on video impressions and interviews with the industry folks.

Keep checking!

GAMES09: Microsoft announces classics line-up starting from Dhs69

Microsoft announces classics line-up priced between Dhs69 to Dhs99. Titles inlcude Forza 2, Halo 3, Gears of War, Mass Effect and PGR4.

GAMES09: Pluto Games Line-up at GAMES 09

Press release:
Pluto Games will be showcasing some of the industry’s most anticipated games lineup for the end of year 2009 and coming 2010. Exhibiting at this year’s GAMES 09 at Dubai Festival City from October 1 – 3, Pluto Games will be offering all gaming fans and visitors the exclusive chance to play special preview demos at their stand. International renowned gaming developers and Pluto Games partners; Disney, Ubisoft, Konami, Codemasters, Capcom, Namco, NcSoft, and THQ will also be at GAMES 09.

Visitors to GAMES 09 can enjoy all the stand activities at the Pluto Games stand, running blockbuster demos like; Pro Evolution Soccer 2010, Avatar, Split Second, and Assasin’s Creed 2

“It is any gaming enthusiast’s dream to get their hands on a blockbuster game before it is officially released, and at our stand, we will give them this opportunity,” said Rami El Hussein, Managing Director, Pluto. “Games, like Pro Evolution Soccer 2010, are really a big hit in the Middle East, and we definitely could not pass up the chance to give the UAE public this chance to have a sneak peak.”

Making a guest appearance will be rally racing champion Mohammed Ben Sulayem to officially launch the DiRT 2 Arabia virtual racing challenge, which will leave one lucky winner at the end of the 2 month challenge driving home in a 2010 Nissan 370Z. The challenge will see gaming fans compete on the recently launched Codemasters’ Colin McRae™: DiRT®2 featuring Ben Sulayem and other top drivers from around the globe. For more information and registration, visit www.dirt2arabia.com.

As part of the gaming festivities, Pluto Games will be giving away every minute a free copy of an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or PC game to one lucky visitor to the Pluto Games stand throughout the opening times of GAMES 09.

GAMES09: EA reveals GAMES 09 line-up

Electronic Arts announced their line-up of games that will be showcased in GAMES 09 this year. Top of the list is the much-anticipated game in the region, FIFA 2010. Introducing the new intuitive 360 dribbling system and an array of new groundbreaking features, FIFA 2010 promises players a realistic experience to all football fans around the world. Players can now download a demo of the game on both XBOX Live and PSN. Racing fans are in for a treat as Need for Speed: Shift, the next generation racing game, makes an appearance in the shiw. Shift is set to revolutionize the racing genre by introducing new mechanics that allow for maximum realism. Get into the driver’s seat as you race your way to the top in the strongest, fastest and most expensive cars. EA will also showcase Brutal Legend, their epic metal tale about a legendary roadie who travels back in time to battle his way against bad metal music and demons. The game stars Jack Black and an A-List of rock’n’rollers including Ozzie Osbourne, Rob Halford, and Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister. For those with an ear for the classics, EA is showcasing their latest Rock Band installment, The Beatles: Rock Band. A collection of The Beatles greatest hits will allow up to 6 players to take the stage and perform great hits such as Sgt. Pepper, Yellow Submarine, As My Guitar Gently Weeps and much more. The lineup also includes Grand Slam Tennis for the Wii that comes bundled with a Motion-Plus accessory that allows increased sensitivity and allows for more accurate gameplay. And for those looking to break a sweat, the long awaited expansion for EA Sports Active; More Work Outs, will debut at GAMES 09 and offer Wii owners more intense workouts for a healthier lifestyle. GAMES 09 will take place in Dubai between 1 – 3 October in Festival city, and will unite gamers from all over the Middle East with some of the biggest and greatest game developers in the world.

TGS ’09: Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery Dated

Press release:
Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery™ for the Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DS™ systems will launch on November 20 for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of £29.99. The game is rated “16+” by the Pan European Game Information (PEGI).

Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery takes players through an untold chapter from the Assassin’s Creed® II console storyline utilizing the unique strengths of the Nintendo DS platform. In this new adventure, Ezio travels to Spain to rescue fellow assassins being held under the guise of the Inquisition, only to uncover a Templar plot to sail west and discover the New World.

The game takes platforming into the next generation with an emphasis on exhilarating speed and breathtaking acrobatics. The in-game animations provide players with a true visceral experience and the intuitive controls enable players to easily execute assassinations and nimbly navigate obstacles or reaching daredevil speeds. Nintendo DSi owners will be able to take pictures of themselves and put them directly into the game as “WANTED!” posters.

“Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery is a great way for fans to experience a new chapter of the Assassin’s Creed II storyline,” shared John Parkes, EMEA marketing director at Ubisoft. “We think Nintendo fans will be impressed with all the unique features in the game designed specifically for Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS.”

Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery is being developed by Griptonite Games.

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