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EA and TransGaming have announced the release of The Sims 3 Pets, a new expansion for The Sims 3. Developed by the The Sims Studio team, the addition gives players the ability to play as a pet for the first time in franchise history and see The Sims world through their eyes.

“Pets have always been the top requested theme from our players, and we are delivering a deep, rich experience in The Sims 3 Pets for our fans to enjoy,” said Scott Evans, General Manager of The Sims Studio. “From the moment a player starts the game, they’ll revel in the opportunities to recreate their childhood pet, train their dog to be the most desirable or despicable animal in the neighborhood, share their favorite pet on The Sims 3 Exchange or witness the special lasting relationships their Sims build with their pets. The Sims 3 Pets is about the moments that are unique to the player who lives them.”

Across all platforms, players will be able to use the robust Create a Pet tool to customize dozens of breeds of cats and dogs. On the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC/Mac, players are able to design their pet from their coats, colors and body shapes, and even down to their snouts and age. Players can also choose from a variety of unique personality traits such as friendly, hyper, clueless and piggy, offering limitless opportunities for fans to create the pets of their dreams or nightmares.

In The Sims 3 Pets PC/Mac Expansion Pack, players are able to create and adopt dogs, cats and, another first for the franchise, horses. Fans are able to take their Sims and their pets on wild adventures while exploring the new world with animal-specific venues and environments such as the dog park, cat jungle or horse stables. Another exclusive to the PC/Mac version, players will be able to search through their world for the elusive unicorn. The magical unicorn can be added to a player’s household after they’ve built up the relationship enough. Unicorns offer fun opportunities to play with life by being able to bless other Sims, teleport around the world and even spark fires. Other minor pets that Sims can own and interact with, but are not fully controllable, include birds, rodents, lizards, turtles and snakes.

TransGaming

Electronic Arts

The Sims 3 Pets

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In a new blog post Introversion recently revealed it has put Subversion on hold to pursue a new game title. Although the company plans to return to the game at some point it will likely be in a new form. Subversion would have offered players the chance to control a team of skilled operatives seeking to complete missions in hostile high security buildings.

This new idea was fully formed, just like DEFCON, just like Uplink. I could see most of the core game design straight away. I could see how much of the tech that we’d designed for Subversion was directly applicable, if properly turned on its head. And within an hour or two, I’d made up my mind. I went old-school and bought a blank notebook, the first time I’ve used one since Uplink, and spent most of the ten hour flight home writing it all down. Those first 10 pages written on that flight are the design bible that we still stick to today.

And like that, the decision that should have been incredibly difficult was made. We don’t have the manpower to do multiple projects, so it was one game or the other, and I had no trouble convincing Mark and Tom which way I wanted to go.

Subversion has not been cancelled, but I would certainly forget about it for now. We will be going back to that project eventually, but the first thing I plan to do is gut the thing from top to bottom of all the tech fluff that we forced in over the years. Without a core game it’s all a worthless distraction, and I will NEVER again spend so long making tech for a game without having a solid core game in place first. Subversion needs a total rethink from top to bottom, and some long standing sacred cows need slaughtering.

Introversion Blog: Subversion Delayed, New Game

Introversion Software

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Macgamestore.com has added Double Fine's Psychonauts to its growing roster of titles available for download and purchase. Brought to Mac in partnership with TransGaming, the action adventure title follows the story of a young psychic named Razputin on a quest to join an elite group of international psychic secret agents.

This classic action/adventure platformer from acclaimed developers Double Fine Productions follows the story of a young psychic named Razputin. In his quest to join the Psychonauts—an elite group of international psychic secret agents—he breaks into their secret training facility: Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp. But this is no average psychic summer camp! A mysterious villain has kidnapped Raz's fellow campers and stolen their brains. Now he must use his psychic powers of Telekinesis, Levitation, and most of all his ability to project himself into the minds of others—to find the loose noodles and keep them from falling into the wrong hands. Fight mental demons! Uncover hidden memories! Sort emotional baggage! Explore the fantastic realm of the inner mind! Join the Psychonauts!

Requirements:

• Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6.8 or higher
  
• Processor: Intel Core Duo Processor
  
• RAM: 2 GB of RAM
  
• Video Card: ATI X1600 / NVIDIA 8600GT / Intel HD3000 or better card with at least 128 MB VRAM
  
• Hard Drive Space: 4GB minimum hard drive space
  
• Controls: Keyboard and Mouse

TransGaming

Psychonauts

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Anuman Interactive's Journey to the Center of the Moon is now available for purchase from Macgamestore.com. Set in the 19th century universe of Jules Verne, the adventure title puts players in the role of Michel Ardan and gives them the chance to explore the moon and its interior.

Open your mind and let your imagination run wild as you embark on a fascinating journey to a far star.

An epic graphic adventure set in the 19th century in the fantastic and extravagant universe of Jules Verne.

Following the best-selling adventure game Return to Mysterious Island comes a new and enthralling instalment in the Jules Verne collection inspired by the novels From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon.

Play as the eccentric Michel Ardan and partake in a conquest to the far side of moon. Alone in this mysterious place, explore the ruins of an abandoned temple and witness amazing events. Make fantastic discoveries and venture into the centre of the moon itself as you try to find a way back home to Earth.

Features:

• Discover beautiful environments on the dark far side of the Moon populated with a host of lunar creatures.
  
• Pioneer a journey punctuated with ordeals leading you to the secrets of an advanced intelligent civilization.
  
• Experience a non-linear and exotic voyage taking you beyond your imagination.
  
• Use the innovative inventory system to combine and create new tools.
  
• Challenge yourself and strive to improve your lunar IQ by actively completing each original puzzle.

Journey To The Center Of The Moon

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Anuman Interactive has updated its Facebook page with a new teaser image revealing plans for a new game based on the XIII comic series. XIII: Lost Identity, much like the last game to hold the title, will apparently revolve around the exploits of an amnesiac seeking to reclaim the fragments of his forgotten life.

In November, go back to the XIII conspiracy origins on PC, Mac, iPhone and iPad

Facebook: Anuman Interactive

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