Epic Games announced that it has recently acquired Chair Entertainment, the dev studio behind the Xbox Live Arcade title Undertow.

Chair's also working on a game series based on the "Ender's Game" novels, so it'll be interesting to see how this new arrangement will affect that project. More details on the acquisition are available in the full article.

Chair Entertainment's Undertow will be getting its first downloadable content this week. It also happens to be the game's first expansion pack, so it's a big one. Check out all the pertinent details in the full article.

Apparently, Orson Scott Card has given the Ender's Game as a video game idea some very thorough thinking. Chair Entertainment has announced a partnership with Card that will allow them to release a game series based on the novel's Battle Room. Details regarding this matter are available in the full article.

We recently reported that Undertow would be a free downloadable for the Xbox Live Arcade as compensation for all those downtimes that occured during the past holidays. Apparently, however, the release of the freebie was plagued with additional Live crashes.

A system message appears notifying users that won't let them get their hands on the game. Details in the full article.

Nothing says sorry like a good peace offering. And for the guys who were stricken with Xbox Live's connection blues during the holidays, that mean you're entitled to a  fee copy of XBLA's Undertow game. More details regarding this are available in the full article.

Xbox Live has just updated with a free downloadable demo of Midway Games' BlackSite: Area 51. Guys who frequent the Arcade scene will also want to check out the launch of Chair Entertainment's Undertow, while Rock Band owners will want to see their new track packs. More details for each update are available in the full article.

Ever wonder how much space is taken up by each part of a game? Well Stephen Totilo of MTV did and decided to find out by asking the creators of Undertow, the new shooter game from Chair Entertainment.

The creators even provided a chart which gives a fair idea of how much space is allocated for every part of the 50 MB game (like characters, interface and sound). Read more in the full article.

Chair Entertainment Group's XBLA title Undertow is finally dated for November 21, and its just in time for some smashing fun during Thanksgiving season, making it one of the great titles that will invade Xbox Live for the month of November.

Those who aren't familiar with Undertow yet, its an action shooter where all takes place...well yes, underwater. Graphically speaking, the game looks like one of the addictive side-scrolling shooters at first glance, but its actually a free-for-all watery arena pumped up with great visual effects, where players can choose their characters and blast at each other in Multiplayer.

Speaking of Multiplayer, here's a couple of Undertow videos that showcase the game's frenetic underwater action to make the wait easier. Enjoy!


Watch the videos in the Full Article!

Microsoft has sent out word reminding Xbox 360 fans that Mutant Storm Empire will hit the Xbox Live Marketplace just in time for Halloween. The game will be available come October 31 for 800 Microsoft Points.

Mutant Storm Empire from PomPom Games is the sequel to Mutant Storm Reloaded and features 16 levels spread over four different worlds. Players will crush gangs of robots, smash swarms of UFOs and demolish massive enemy bosses in this sci-fi shooter.

Mutant Storm Empire is also just the tip of the iceberg. Here's a list of new games coming in the next few weeks:

• N+ (Slick Entertainment and Metanet Software)
• Screwjumper! (THQ)
• SHREK-N-ROLL (Activision)
• SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam (Nickelodeon and THQ)
• Switchball (Sierra Online)
• Undertow (Chair Entertainment Group)
• Word Puzzle (InterServ International)

Independent video game developer Chair Entertainment has announced that it has signed an exclusive deal with Epic Games to use the Unreal Engine 3 for all its present and upcoming projects. The deal will cover all games Chair Entertainment develops for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 gaming platforms.

The first game to be released under the new agreement will be Undertow, an Xbox Live Arcade title slated to go live all over the world this summer. Undertow features a 15-level campaign for single player or co-op. The game also supports multiplayer for up to 16 players. Pretty impressive considering Undertow is reportedly just 50MB.

Here's what Epic Games vice president Mark Rein said about the deal:

We love working with cool independent studios like Chair that are truly focused on delivering value to gamers and creating experiences that break new boundaries in gameplay and creativity.

Sure, we love working with the big developers and publishers too, but there’s something really satisfying about seeing a young company with great talent doing some awesome stuff with our technology. Undertow is just the first great game you’ll see from these guys – prepare to be wowed some more.