The classic Boulder Dash title is heading to both the PSP and Nintendo DS handheld platforms in its current-gen reincarnation as Boulder Dash - Rocks! care of 10tacle Studios. The game's already hit Europe, but North America gets it only next Spring.

Read more to watch the latest video trailer and learn more about the puzzle game: the monsters you might encounter, the weapons you can use, the story, the games various levels, and such.

The handheld remake of the classic Boulder Dash brand will be coming to Europe care of a new distribution deal signed by Electronic Arts and 10Tactle Studios AG. EA and 10Tacle Studios will be splitting distribution and market and PR activities respectively.

Sporting a new look but still retaining the classic flavor of the original, Boulder Dash-Rocks! (DS, PSP) is a puzzle and dexterity game where players have to collect sparkling diamonds while avoiding traps and beating opponents.

The game has also been given a brand-new multiplayer mode as well as three additional play modes and two game modes custom designed for the game's two different release platforms.

Boulder Dash-Rocks! will hit the Nintendo DS handheld video game system in Europe this holiday season. The Sony PlayStation Portable version will be available in Spring 2008.

Here's something for old school video game lovers out there: the official website of DS and PSP title Boulder Dash-Rocks! has just gone live and with it comes various media content like wallpapers, screenshots, and even more information on the changes made in the franchise since it was first released in the 80s.

For our younger audience as well as those not familiar with the game, Boulder Dash-Rocks! revolves around the character Rockford whose job is to dig through caves and collect diamonds. Of course, this is easier said than done because Rockford will meet a lot of opposition in the form of enemy creatures as well as falling rocks.

According to developer Tuna Technologies and 10tacle Studios, several new features have been incorporated in the new game such as bombs and laser guns. These can be used by Rockford in collecting the said diamonds.

Graphics have been improved, of course, and several modes were incorporated as well including a multiplayer one. If you want to know more about Boulder Dash-Rocks!, our Read link below should take you to the official site. The title will be released on Q1 2008.

This year's Games Convention will play host to six world premieres from 10tacle Studios AG. The company will be showcasing their upcoming line-up at Booth 150, Hall 1. Here's the list of what 10tacle has to offer:

• Codename Panzers: Cold War (PC)
• Black Prophecy (PC MMO)
• Ready2Rumble - Revolution (Wii)
• Boulder Dash - Rocks! (DS, PSP)
• Happy Hippos World Tour (DS, PC)

The sixth title in 10tacle Studios' world premiere line-up will be the secret next gen project being worked on by their Belgian studio. This particular title will only be revealed to a select audience behind closed doors at the event. The company is also slated to give a press conference on August 22nd at 1:00 P.M. in the Leipzig Trade Fair press conference centre.

10tacle Studios and 10tacle Studios Mobile, along with co-publisher First Star Software, Inc., have released the first screenshots of Boulder Dash - Rocks!, the upcoming addition to the Boulder Dash franchise.

The game is currently being developed by Tuna Technologies. For the reinvention of the cult classic, Boulder Dash - Rocks! has been given a whole new look, along with a new multiplayer mode. There are also three other game modes apart from the single-player and multiplayer modes.

Boulder Dash - Rocks! is currently slated for a Q1 2008 release for the Nintendo DS and Sony PlayStation Portable handheld video game systems. Check out the screenshots below.

   

 

Julian Eggebrecht, Factor 5 president and lead director, has been announced as the opening keynote speaker for the GC Developers Conference (GCDC) 2007 in Leipzig (also known as the Leipzig Games Convention). Details of his speech have yet to be revealed, but we can expect it to be interesting at the very least. Factor 5 is currently working on the PS3-exclusive game Lair.

Peter Molyneux, Lionhead Studios' president, will also be giving a keynote focusing on the company's classic games. The GCDC 2007 will be held from August 20 to 22 in Leipzig, Germany. Other GCDC 2007 international speakers will include:

• Jason Manley (Massive Black)
• Christopher Schmitz, (10Tacle Studios)
• Jennifer MacLean (Comcast Interactive Media)
• Dr. Michael Wimmer (The University of Vienna)
• Alexander Fernández (Streamline Studios)
• Cindy Armstrong (Webzen)
• Amir Taaki (Crystalspace)
• Jeff Strain (ArenaNet)
• Vlad Ihora (Telia Sonora)
• Barbara Lippe (Avaloop IT Solutions)
• Pamela Kato (The GamerX)
• Uwe Nikl (Level 3)
• Matt Firor (Ultra Mega Games)
• Konstantin Ewald (Osborne Clarke)

  

Last year, 10tacle studios announced that they would be releasing Boulder Dash for the PSP and DS. For the guys unfamiliar with the game, Boulder Dash was originally created in the 80s for the Apple II, MSX, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Atari 400/800 home computers.

The game puts players behind the controls of Rockford, whose job is to dig through caves collecting gems and diamonds while avoiding hostile creatures and falling rocks. Fast forward to today, we we have received new details for this upcoming game, which has been renamed Boulder Dash-Rocks!:

• Completely revamped in-game graphics
• Release date moved to the fourth quarter 2007.
• The game will feature tools to help the players on their diamond-collecting, such as bombs and laser guns - the latter can be loaded with different types of ammo.
• Each laser ammo has a different characteristic: some have the ability to freeze enemies, while others pull objects towards the player.
• Five game modes: Single-player, Multi-player, and three other TBA game modes.
• Unique game modes for the PSP and DS (TBA).  

Just keep posted as 10tacle reveals more details on this upcoming game in the near future

Following the trend of gaming history's classic titles coming to the latest generation of portable consoles (just like Earthworm Jim), 10Tacle Studios and First Star Software have announced that they are doing the same for the classic Boulder Dash. A big player on the Commodore64 circuit, Boulder Dash will be out on the PSP and DS by the second half of 2007.

The hero of the game, whom you lucky guys get to control, is the brave Rockford. His aim: to dig through caves collecting gems and diamonds, whilst avoiding dangerous creatures of various types and obstacles like falling rocks.

Alexandra Gerb, Managing Director of 10Tacle Mobile said, "With Boulder Dash we are proud to be able to continue one of the oldest and most famous brands in computer games. We want to lend protagonist Rockford's adventures a fresh, modern style to get him into shape for the years to come."

If you are a bit of an old school gamer like a lot of those in the QJ office, you'll have probably heard of this game. It was developed by a total of three different studios in the 80's and came out on Apple II, MSX, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Atari 400/800 home computers. It was later ported to NES, Acorn Electron, PC, and Amstrad CPC. It may sound like a lot, but that's simply because it was a very popular title back in the day. The screenshot above from the C64 edition may not be the most graphically pleasing, but we can assure that the PSP and DS version will be a little more refined.