Coke powers search for next internet superstar

We Pinoys love to sing, and everyday thousands of songs are sacrificed in the name of this national pastime. We may have some major, major issues with regards to expressing our thoughts or dealing with crisis, but when it comes to belting out notes we are always ready in a heartbeat.

This is why X-Play has brought in the first online videoke game in the country—Superstar.

Since its announcement at e-Games’ Domination IV, it has become one of the most anticipated games of 2010. Superstar is a massively multiplayer online casual game created by Chinese developer Shanda Interactive Entertainment and locally published by X-Play. It is the first and only online 3D videoke where anyone can sing directly within the game using a computer headset or microphone compatible with the game settings.

Aside from combining online gaming and reality entertainment, however, Superstar will also give talented gamers a shot at becoming true celebrities. The Superstar Online Singing Star Search will be looking for the best singers in-game and will be invited to audition at Superstar’s nationwide mall shows. The winner will become part of an album and a concert with Sarah Geronimo.

X-Play has teamed up with Coca-Cola to help quench the thirst for success of more potential singers and make the competition even more exciting. Their goal is to reach 2.5 million youth through a series of mall tours and auditions throughout 23 SM malls nationwide. The activities planned for the rest of the year will cover 326 baranggays and 4,000 internet cafes around the metro including online reinforcement through 20 internet café forums. There will also be an additional promotional activity wherein more than 2 million in Starcash (in game currency) will be given away in exchange for Coke crowns.

“With the rising popularity of internet sensations, Superstar has perfectly timed this talent search. The internet is the new platform for superstardom, and we are glad to have Coke on board as a familiar presence to help solidify that fact,” says George Royeca chief executive officer of X-Play.

“The game offers a unique platform with the elements of both reality TV and video games giving Coca-Cola an innovative new medium to help solidify their presence with the gaming community.”

Royeca adds they are very excited with their partnership with Coca-Cola. He said they believe this new platform for online superstardom is about to take the next step in its evolution and this partnership with Coke is just the first of many as they continue to take measures to develop the local gaming industry.

To learn more visit www.superstar.ph.

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Dance and turn your enemies into pigs in mat 
Another MMOFPS is making its Philippine debut and it’s a strange one.

Mission Against Terror (MAT) Online is the newest free-to-play first person shooter to invade the country. Developed by Kingsoft, China and published by Gamepad Interactive, Inc., MAT offers an exciting Real Gun-PKing tournament that may seem familiar but definitely different.

Like other FPS games, Mission Against Terror offers sophisticated modern weapons, strategically designed maps, diversified gaming modes, and personalized armor and equipment. But have you ever played an FPS where you can use dancing as a tactical move and recover lost HD?

Dancing is not the only feature that gives MAT its unique flavor. Instead of blowing up opponents with ordinary explosives, you can use polymorph grenades to transform them first into turtles or pigs for some crazy kills.

There are also a couple of interesting modes in MAT worth checking out. The first is Mummy Mode wherein Anubis the Mummy is randomly infected upon a soldier. Once attacked by the Mummy, the attacked becomes infected themselves and sets out to attack other soldiers. Just like the infamous zombie movies where it’s kill or be eaten. The match ends once everyone has turned into a mummy.

Phantom Mode is another flavor of the novelty that MAT has to offer. This is similar to “Plant the Bomb” except one team is composed of phantoms, that are next to invisible. These melee toting phantoms will require a completely different set of battle tactics from armed soldiers. The only way to win is to annihilate the entire team.

Other modes in MAT include:

Free For All and Team Deathmatch- individuals and teams rack up points for the most kills within a time limit.

Extermination- The objective here is to wipe out the entire opposing team. Players can only respawn at the end of the round.

Sabotage- The standard bomb squad versus the terrorist bomber.

Infiltration- Infiltrate into enemy territory, the team that has infiltrated the most enemy zones, wins.

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Lara Croft returns 
Sequels don’t usually guarantee that a franchise is doing well, and when they don’t, game developers usually resort to creating prequels, spin offs or rebooting the series altogether.

The reboot to the Tomb Raider franchise is out and it breaks several traditions. The first of which is the name change. The Tomb Raider moniker has been dropped and the new game is now entitled Lara Croft and The Guardian Of Light. It is also available as a download-only game for the Xbox 360 and now utilizes an isometric view instead of the typical over-the-shoulder perspective. But perhaps the most noticeable change of all is that you get to play the game with a friend. Yep. Guardian of Life now features coop play.

This time Lara will be accompanied by an ancient Aztec warrior named Totec throughout her adventure.
It retains the same puzzle-based adventure gameplay the franchise is famous for, but the addition of
Totec and coop play has definitely breathed new life to the series according to the critics.

Early reviews have been positive and describes it as the best Tomb Raider game in a long time. “You’re going to fall in love with Lara all over again,” says Daemon Hatfield of IGN and gave it a score of 8.5/10.

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Datablitz Pick Of The Week
Mafia 2

Born the son of a poor immigrant, Vito is a beaten down Italian American who is trying to secure his piece of the American Dream. Looking to escape the life of poverty that consumed his childhood, Vito is soon swayed by the lure of power and wealth that a life of Organized Crime can bring.

A petty criminal his whole life, Vito, along with his childhood friend, Joe, will descend into the world of Organized Crime. Together, they will work to prove themselves to the Mob as they try to make their names on the streets of a cold and unforgiving city.

Mafia 2 immerses players in the mob underworld of a fictitious late 1940’s / early 1950s scenario. The game engages you in a cinematic Hollywood movie experience in a living, breathing city, fusing high octane gunplay with white knuckle driving and an engaging narrative.

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For all your PC gaming needs drop by Datablitz’ branches at SM, Robinsons, and Ayala Malls. You could also call (632) 734-5058; (632) 733-8477; (632) 7348 or check out their website at www.datablitz.com.ph. Send your questions and comments on anything gaming to [email protected] or check out my [email protected]for the latest gaming, pop, tech, and music news, and follow me on \t “_blank” twitter.com/ed_uy.﷓

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