Publisher Aspyr has announced a multi-year agreement to bring the offerings of test preparation firm Kaplan into the interactive realm, beginning with an SAT preparation game for PC, Nintendo DS and Mac.

Due out later this year, the untitled effort is claimed to be an "engaging, visually dynamic and unconventional title." It is apparently "rooted solidly" in Kaplan's line of preparation materials for the standardized SAT test recommended by most US high schools and colleges.

"Students learn best when they're engaged with the study content," said Kaplan general manager of pre-college programs Anthony Manley. "While a video game shouldn't be seen as a substitute for a full prep course, it's an innovative and effective way to reinforce preparatory learning."

In development at Aspyr Studios, the game marks the first original title to be created and published by Aspyr. Other titles by the studio include the PC and Mac editions of Neversoft's Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, the upcoming PC port of Propaganda Games' Turok, and the forthcoming Xbox 360 edition of Gas Powered Games' Supreme Commander.

The Xbox 360 version of the Gas Powered Games' RTS Supreme Commander (PC, X360) has been delayed to the early summer, publisher Aspyr announced today.

The delay was announced by Aspyr marketing manager Eric Duncan, who could not announce a firm date for the port's release but said that Supreme Commander will be "on store shelves later this spring or early summer."

"The benefit of having independent companies such as Aspyr and its partners working on a project of this magnitude is that decisions like this can be executed quickly," added Duncan. "While the game will be hitting shelves later than originally expected, the additional time put into development will result in better gameplay and more fun for gamers."

The Xbox 360 port of Supreme Commander is currently in development at Hellbent Games. For more on the title, check out our hands-on preview.

Publisher Aspyr Media has released the first set of screenshots from Hellbent Games' Xbox 360 port of Gas Powered Games' PC RTS Supreme Commander, set to release in Q1 2008.

Speaking to Shacknews, Aspyr stated that the Xbox 360 game will not incorporate the additions and changes from the recently-released PC expansion, Forged Alliance, with one small exception--three of the game's new nine units are drawn from Forged Alliance, with the other six exclusive to the console. There will also be three new multiplayer modes, with existing maps modified to support those modes in addition to the standard assortment.

Aspyr Media sends along a Guitar Hero 3 patch, updating the PC release to v1.1. The patch adds a co-op Quickplay game mode, improves whammy bar sound effects and fixes several bugs.

Officially confirming statements made to us by Chris Taylor of Gas Powered Games, publisher Aspyr Media has announced that PC real-time strategy title Supreme Commander is in the works for Xbox 360. Vancouver-based Hellbent Games, founded in 2006 by former Rockstar Vancouver/Barking Dog Studios designer Christopher Mair, will be handling the port.

Due in early 2008, the Xbox 360 port of the game will feature newly-created units, maps, multiplayer modes, and interface and HUD elements. Xbox Live-based online multiplayer will of course be supported.

"We believe that we¹ve raised the bar for RTS gaming on the PC and now, co-developing with Hellbent Games, we know that we can do the same on consoles," said Taylor in today's announcement. Last month, Taylor characterized Xbox 360 as "the platform of choice for moving stuff from the PC." He acknowledged the strategy genre's control interface obstacles on consoles, but stated, "we're getting closer and closer to that touchdown."

Aspyr will be publishing Supreme Commander on Xbox 360; it will be the company's first game for Microsoft's current-gen console. PC version publisher THQ does not appear to be directly involved.

Though not officially supported by Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, X360) PC developer Aspyr Media, the wireless Gibson Les Paul guitar controller designed for use with the Xbox 360 will work on the upcoming PC version of the game as well.

Shacknews tested the Les Paul's functionality on a Vista PC using a final build of the game along with the Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows, which allows the use of Xbox 360 wireless gamepads on Windows-running rigs. Though the PC we installed the game on didn't meet Aspyr's daunting minimum system requirements and only ran the game with considerable framerate issues, the wireless guitar was fully usable in the game, whammy bar and all.

Unfortunately for would-be wireless users, the game will only be available in bundle form for $79.99 when it retails November 12, coming packed with the wired Gibson Xplorer guitar from the Xbox 360 version of Harmonix's Guitar Hero II (PS2, X360). An Aspyr rep told Shacknews that the Xplorer model is the only guitar controller officially supported by the developer.

Propaganda Games' reimagining of the Turok franchise will hit the PC next spring courtesy of Aspyr Studios, according to a statement today by Turok license owner Touchstone.

The series, which was made popular by the now-defunct Acclaim, is now being given new life with Propaganda's take. Players will be back in the jungles, executing stealth knife kills and bulls-eyeing dinos with Turok's trusty bow and arrow.

"It's definitely on the radar as far as something that we're looking at," said Propaganda co-founder Josh Holmes to Shacknews in an interview earlier this week. "The engine that this runs on is a highly modified version of the Unreal 3 Engine, and the Unreal 3 Engine supports Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, so it seems like an obvious platform that would make sense for the game."

Turok hits stores February 5 on PS3 and Xbox 360, with the Aspyr port making sense later that spring.

Following the release of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, X360) Sunday, many would-be rockers have cited problems with the new Les Paul guitar models across all platforms. As seen in the official Guitar Hero forum's thread for problems with the new guitars, many of the complaints stem from nonfunctional buttons or strum bars.

Some posters believe the issues come from a faulty neck-to-body connection, as the new guitars feature removable necks that may not join to the body as tightly as necessary for the metal contacts on either piece to sustain a connection. Some owners of the Vicarious Visions-developed Wii version have cited sound issues with the game as well.

Despite these problems, listings on the Toys "R" Us website indicate the standalone Les Paul wireless guitars may be available to purchase separately starting November 8, as they were not available to buy outside the bundle at the game's launch. Shacknews contacted RedOctane for comment on both issues, but has not yet received a response.

It should be noted that the upcoming PC version of Guitar Hero III by Aspyr Media comes bundled with a wired Gibson Xplorer, which will presumably sidestep the problems attributed to the new wireless models when the game retails November 12.

Ranging from $89.99 to $99.99, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock's retail packages will be an expensive proposition when the game debuts October 28. For guitar-less gamers willing to make some compromises, RedOctane has teamed up with Target to offer a value pack of sorts, bundling two exclusive guitars with the PlayStation 2 version of the title in one package for $109.99.

The Target-only bundle includes two wired Gibson SG guitar controllers sporting Target's white and red colors in lieu of the standard package's improved controller modeled after a Kramer Striker. Other than the color scheme, it's the same guitar bundled with the PS2's Guitar Hero II, but it of course lacks the wireless capabilities of the Striker as well as the enhanced buttons and accelerometer of the new model.

The standard PS2 Guitar Hero III package with one wireless controller will retail for $89.99 and lacks downloadable content or online play. The Wii version of the game including the Wii-mote cradling Les Paul guitar will sell for the same price, but adds in a fairly robust online mode. Both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 Les Paul wireless bundles will sell for a full Benjamin at $99.99.

And for PC-only people or those looking for the cheapest way possible to play, November 12 is the estimated Guitar Hero III ship date for Aspyr's computer-eating port, coming with an Xplorer wired guitar for $79.99.

Finally giving PC gamers a taste of the plastic-axe powered Guitar Hero magic, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will be coming to PC courtesy of Aspyr Media on November 12. Though the first retail versions will be PC only, Aspyr expects the boxed bundle to be dual-compatible with Windows and Mac machines at a later date. Read on for a full preview, including hands-on details of the alternate keyboard-and-mouse control.

Using keys to press frets and other keys to strum feels like, well, pressing keys on a keyboard while holding down other keys on a keyboard. Having one hand on the keys and the other on the mouse makes the disparate actions of strumming and fret-pressing at least tangible, if not mechanically accurate.

Sixteen more Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock of the tracks were revealed by publisher Activision today, adding songs from bands such as Aerosmith, Bloc Party, Disturbed, Sonic Youth, The Killers, Dead Kennedys, and White Zombie.

Today's announcement brings the total number of known tracks to nearly 60. Other standout songs in the game include Metallica's "One", Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle", Smashing Pumpkins' "Cherub Rock", and exclusive re-recordings of Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K." and Living Colour's "Cult of Personality" performed by the original bands.

New Master Tracks:
- Same Old Song and Dance (by Aerosmith)
- Helicopter (by Bloc Party)
- Stricken (by Disturbed)
- Monsters (by Matchbook Romance)
- Before I Forget (by Slipknot)
- Kool Thing (by Sonic Youth)
- When You Were Young (by The Killers)

New Covers: ... Read more

Last week's announcement that Aspyr Media would be bringing Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock PC and Mac raised a number of questions. Would it be compataible with existing guitars? How would it control otherwise? Which console version, if any, is it be based on? What about downloadable content? The possibility of imported songs and user-created charts? System requirements?

For the answers, I turned to producer Jay Gordon.

Shack: Are you concerned that the PC and Mac editions won't provide the same social experience of gathering around the television as the console editions?

Jay Gordon: Well, more and more PCs are making it into the living room every day, and those machines are often hooked up to big, fancy TVs--so those people who have integrated their entertainment systems will get the same experience...I don't think it's realistic that we can completely recreate that experience with a PC and Mac version, but I think we can create different kinds of social experiences around this powerful franchise.

GameSpy has a Guitat Hero 3 Q&A up, asking the folks at Aspyr about their plans to bring the game to PC and Mac. Questions are about controllers, keyboard and mouse support, custom track support and the difficulty of porting.

Aspyr Media has announced that it will be bringing Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock to PC and Mac this fall. Yes, you read that correctly.

Developed and published by Aspyr, both editions are said to "match their console counterparts with explosive new content and features," right down to the tracklist and online multiplayer.

"Working with such a wildly successful franchise and helping to strengthen an already powerful brand has us feeling like rock stars ourselves, only without the fame, money or musical talent," jested Aspyr executive VP said Ted Staloch. "Aspyr's expertise in developing and publishing for these platforms means that we will deliver a game that wails just as hard as it does on consoles but feels natural on this audience's chosen platform."

"Providing the option for our fans to play Guitar Hero at their desk or on a laptop on the go is incredibly exciting, and we're thrilled to now offer the ... Read more

PC users will be able to download a demo of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars on Monday, a Splash Damage community manager said on the official Quake Wars forums. The PC version recently went gold and is scheduled to arrive in stores on October 2 in North America and September 28 in Europe and Australia.

Retailers will carry both a $49.99 regular and $59.99 limited edition with the limited edition including a premium slipcase, bonus DVD, and ten collectible cards. There's no word yet on a release date for Nerve Software's Xbox 360 version, Z-Axis' PlayStation 3 version, or Aspyr's Mac version.

Ubisoft today announced that it plans to acquire German publisher Sunflowers, the owner of the Anno brand of historical empire-building strategy games for PC. Most recently, Sunflowers released Anno 1701, developed by Related Designs. Anno 1701 was released in North America as 1701 A.D. by Aspyr Media. It has also been announced as in development for Nintendo DS (screenshots). Past games in the series, including Anno 1602: Creation of a New World and Anno 1503: The New World, were also released in North America with the "A.D." naming convention.

"I'm glad to confide Anno to Ubisoft, a company known for the innovation and creativity of its development teams," commented Sunflowers co-founder Adi Boiko. "The brand will benefit from Ubisoft's global strength, allowing new audiences to discover the pleasure of empire building through new Anno games."

Having seen great success in European markets, particular Germany, the Anno franchise has sold over five million units worldwide. "With the acquisition of Anno, Ubisoft reinforces its position in the real-time strategy market," said Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot. "Anno, along with Ubisoft's The Settlers, is one of the most well known franchises in Germany, reaching a wide audience that includes not only traditional gamers, but also women and families. We are proud to add another top-quality brand to our rich portfolio and we are looking forward to bringing the brand to an even wider audience."

Related Designs is currently working on a new Anno game, making it the first developer to head up two consecutive main entries in the series. As part of the deal, which is expected to close in the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2007, Ubisoft will also take a 30% stake in Related Designs.

New at FiringSquad today is a Q&A with Aspyr Media's Jay Gordon, producer of the North American release of 1701 A.D. / ANNO 1701. Questions are about the game's new features, empire building, the singleplayer campaign, multiplayer support, and graphics.

Also new at GameSpy is this preview of ANNO 1701 / 1701 A.D., checking out the strategy game sequel that Aspyr Media is publishing in North America.

New at FiringSquad today is a Gothic 3 Q&A. Blaine Christine of North American publisher Aspyr Media is asked the development team's main goals for the game, the storyline, the player character, RPG elements, the seamless loading game world, graphical features and the current status of the US release.