Newsbriefs: Shadowrun Gold, Drawn to Life, Video Games Live

Author: by Staff

[UPDATED: 3:30pm PST] Today's regularly updated newsbriefs include news of cross platform shooter Shadowrun going gold for both the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista, THQ announcing it will be publishing 5TH Cell's original Nintendo DS title Drawn to Life, and news of Video Games Live featuring at the upcoming E For All Expo. - Microsoft and FASA have announced that the highly anticipated cross platform online multiplayer shooter Shadowrun has gone gold for both the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista, and will ship to retail on May 29. Long-rumored before being officially unveiled at E3 last year, Shadowrun is a joint effort between FASA Studio (MechAssault) and Microsoft Game Studios, which brings the traditional "pen and paper" RPG's blend of magic, technology, and weaponry into an arena based online shooter. The game will take advantage of both the Xbox Live and Games For Windows – Live online networks, allowing up to 16 players on either platform to play together seamlessly. Shadowrun will ship with different maps and an additional three map variations, as well as a selection of training levels so players can get accustomed to the title's unique gameplay. - Publisher THQ has announced it will be publishing Drawn to Life (pictured), an original title for the Nintendo DS by 5TH Cell, a studio recognized primarily for its efforts within the mobile market. Drawn to Life, which is particularly notable in that it "lets players draw their own hero" using the stylus, marks THQ's first original property created specifically for the Nintendo DS. The action adventure game will also let players draw environmental elements that will aid their hero to success throughout their journey. Furthermore, Drawn to Life will include the ability for players to trade their created heroes with others via the Nintendo DS Wi-Fi function. The game is expected to be available this fall. - Officials representing this year's E For All Expo, the IDG-organized event set for October 18-21, have announced that the acclaimed Video Games Live concert series is set to perform on Friday, October 19, 2007, at the new 7000-seat Nokia Theatre – part of downtown’s LA Live development across the street from the Convention Center and Staples Center. Video Games Live itself is an immersive concert event featuring music from the biggest video games of all time. It features exclusive video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique interactive segments. “E for All is the show gamers have been waiting for,” said Tommy Tallarico, leading composer and Video Games Live co-creator. “We’re excited and honored to be a part of the inaugural show and to be the very first performance ever in such a new and prominent venue.” - The latest updates on Gamasutra sister alt.gaming weblog GameSetWatch include a rather humorous historical Gamecock essay, an interview with Grant Morrison on his game work, and the release of VH1 Games and Gamelab's mouse-based casual '80s rhythm action game Downbeat. - The latest updates on Gamasutra sister site Game Career Guide include news of Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center student team's upcoming Game Innovation Database update. - Also updated today: the latest Gamasutra job postings, including openings from BitTorrent, Cranky Pants Games, Day 1 Studios, Destineer, Disney Online, Electronic Arts, Iron Lore Entertainment, Massive Entertainment, Nexon Publishing North America, Onverse, Pandemic Studios Brisbane, Planet Moon Studios, Radical Entertainment, Riot Games, Solutions IQ, THQ Corporate, Visual Concepts, Vivendi Games, WXP3D, and XDG.