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Apple Games has posted a new feature, this time turning the spotlight on EA's Madden NFL 08. The Ciderized title offers players the chance to take control of their own football team and lead it to victory. Apple's feature includes comments from one of the game's producers as well as some tips and tricks for success in the game.

One of the first places we start every year is ensuring we have realistic playbooks,” notes Kiniry. “The guys here watch an unbelievable amount of game film from each team in the NFL to help create those. Fans will see a lot of the same formations and plays that their favorite teams use.”

He adds: “We’re also always looking at how players handle situations in the game. For example, if we notice a cornerback is not playing a certain route correctly, we’ll go in and make changes.”

New features in Madden NFL 08 include: the ability to control the lead blocker or a wide receiver during a play, rather than starting in the shoes of the quarterback; Hit Stick 2.0, an enhanced version of a previous feature that lets you deliver more precise tackles on defense; and skill drills that help you sharpen your passing, rushing, and defense skills, along with your ability to adjust plays at the line of scrimmage.

In addition, teams now possess Player Weapons. Many players at all positions feature icons that, for example, differentiate between scrambling quarterbacks, those with incredible arm strength, and the ones with precision passing skills.

Apple Games: Madden NFL 08

Electronic Arts (add to watch list)

Madden NFL 08 (add to watch list)

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Although the PC version of the Unreal Tournament 3 demo was released a few weeks ago, the Mac beta demo has been missing in action. Epic's Ryan Gordon, however, recently posted in his blog that a Mac beta demo is being worked on.

He posted the following after making a linux server version of the beta demo available:

We haven't forgotten all you Mac and Linux gamers, honest.

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Unreal Tournament 3 (add to watch list)

Ryan Gordon's Blog Post

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GameDaily Biz is offering a new interview with the CEO of WaveGroup about his company's work on the sound for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and other game titles. The Q&A covers a variety of topics including discussion of WaveGroup's history with musical games and what the company brings to Guitar Hero III.

BIZ: How would you describe your company and what it does?
Will Littlejohn: Well, lately I've been saying that we are just a giant band that doesn't travel or do gigs, but that's not entirely accurate. A better description for us would be the equivalent of a graphic design firm, but swap out graphics for sound. We create audio content in all forms, and for a wide variety of industries including the games business. In addition to music production and composition, we also do sound design work, post production, and very large dialog projects. I like to say that sound is everywhere, and someone has to make all of that noise. We do our best to be the noisiest.

BIZ: Now that you have history with the Guitar Hero franchise, do you have musicians asking to be a part of Guitar Hero?
WL: Oh yeah, we get lots of musicians contacting us because of Guitar Hero, and we welcome demos from everyone. We do go through all the submissions, and have hired people for songs this way. I think it's really cool that fans of a game like Guitar Hero have a chance to contribute to the series.

GameDailybiz: Creating The Songs Behind Guitar Hero III

Aspyr Media (add to watch list)

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Macgamestore.com has increased its catalog of digital download games with the addition of King Mania.

The fast action strategy game challenges players to make quick tactical decisions as they struggle to conquer their opponents using a variety of buildings and units. KingMania offers 30 levels with unique battlefields, more than 30 structure upgrades, 5 spells of mass destruction, multiplayer mode, and 5 computer opponents to defeat.

Play a quick action strategy game, different from any you have seen before! Kingmania is a fast and simple, yet challenging, game that will test your ability to make quick tactical decisions.

You control different buildings, using their power and the power of hordes of your lieges to defeat your opponents. And if you like online challenges, you can play with your friends in multiplayer mode!

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YouGamers recently posted a preview of Epic Games' eagerly awaited Unreal Tournament 3, the latest entry in the Unreal Tournament first person shooter series. The game will feature the fast paced multiplayer action fans of the series have come to expect as well as a campaign mode for single player game devotees.

The Unreal Tournament series is known for having some of the best bot AI in the business, and the bots in Unreal Tournament 3 are no different. Steve Polge, who cut his chops coding the Reaper Bot for Quake, has graduated from programmer and co-designer to lead designer (and, of course, lead programmer). Now that Cliff Bleszinski has settled in to work on Gears of War sequels until his dying days, Polge has been handed the reigns to Unreal Tournament. Judging by the demo, the game doesn't suffer a bit for the change in leadership. Most importantly, neither has the bot AI; the same skilled bots are available as opponents and as teammates.

Even at the lowest and highest of the multiple bot difficulty settings, bots behave in a manner that's believable and unpredictable (though the most difficult settings are unforgiving to the point of insanity). Bots are refined enough to act as competent teammates during the vehicle CTF matches, and didn't appear to have any problems navigating the various flying vehicles through tight quarters. As always, though, bots are single-minded creatures, so don't expect the most advanced team tactics from a group of AI-controlled players.

YouGamers: Unreal Tournament 3 Preview

Epic Games (add to watch list)

Unreal Tournament 3 (add to watch list)

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