Heres a new console released that will please all retro fans. 20 built in classics from the Master System/Game Gear era, firstly heres the screen of the packaging:
features
Plug & play portable video game system
TV out connection
20 built-in 8-bit SEGA licensed games
Built-in speakers
Function key: start / pause
Direction key: A, B, up, down, left, right
2.4" LCD TFT color screen
Requires 3xAAA size batteries. (battery not included)
The PlayPal Portable is a video game player, which is pre-loaded with 20 classic games from SEGA Master System and Game Gear games. There is no need to buy game cartridges. The high quality 2.4” TFT LCD and built-in speakers allows arcade like playing experience in the palm of your hand. The PlayPal Portable game player has an A/V connector and with the included cable the player can be connected to any TV. The built-in SEGA games provide action adventure while testing your intelligence and skill. Enjoy playing classic SEGA games anytime, anywhere with the new PlayPal Portable video game Player.
Games Include
Ecco Tides of Time
Sonic Triple Trouble
Fantasy Zone
Columns
There was some coverage on sites Ars Technica and Kotaku today talking about how Xbox Live Arcade games are not fully transferable to the Xbox 360 Elite. This was mentioned on the Gamerscore Blog last week.
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Listening to Major Nelson's latest podcast they state they are going to fix the licensing issue. Major said:
'Yes, we know the licensing isn't perfect. We know that. We are working on it.'
PLay Asia are having one of their weekly specials and its great news for 360 fans as its a REGION FREE Title this week:
Weekly Special: Microsoft's futuristic action game Crackdown for Xbox360™ at US$ 29.90 only - offer valid for 1 week
From the publisher: Crackdown™ pushes the action-driving hybrid genre into the next generation with the first ever truly 3-D playground. Enforce justice by any means necessary in a crime-ridden urban center built to encourage the exploration of the full width, depth, and height of the city. Coupled with highly innovative co-op gameplay, a first for the genre, and an interactive world where nearly anything can be used as a weapon, create a volatile cocktail of action as you clean up the streets.
Crackdown is developed by Scotland's Real Time Worlds exclusively for Microsoft Game Studios and Xbox 360™. Real Time Worlds is led by Dave Jones, the creative mastermind behind some of the most innovative and best-selling video games including the global blockbuster Grand Theft Auto and the legendary hit Lemmings.
Microsoft's futuristic action game Crackdown for Xbox360™ is now available at discounted US$ 29.90 only. This is the region free (English language) Asia release version.
As usually, this weekly special is valid for exactly 1 week (if not sold out earlier) and this time limited to a maximum purchase of 1 unit per customer. As a small restriction, please also notice that you cannot use any further discount coupons along with this special offer.
A lot of additional Xbox360™ games have recently been discounted. Make sure to check out our Xbox360™ bargain corner for lots of interesting addon purchases. Here is a small excerpt only.
Bullet Witch US US$ 34.90
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 ASIA US$ 24.90
Kameo: Elements of Power ASIA US$ 18.90
Perfect Dark Zero ASIA US$ 16.90
Perfect Dark Zero [Limited Edition Tin Box] ASIA US$ 22.90
Prey ASIA US$ 22.90
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (Platinum Hits) ASIA US$ 19.90
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent ASIA US$ 34.90
Tomb Raider: Legend (Classics) ASIA US$ 19.90
Viva Pinata [Limited Edition] ASIA US$ 36.90
D3Publisher has announced their plans to bring three titles ("the first of many") to Microsoft's bit-flinging Xbox Live Arcade service: Mad Tracks, RocketBowl (XBLA's first bowling game, they coo), and the addictive matching game Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.
Of course, Puzzle Quest is what we're really interested in here. We can imagine the XBLA version's HD graphics undoing the cramped constraints of the Nintendo DS release, while the delivery mechanism should bypass the PSP version's awkward loading pauses, and then there's Xbox Live integration for a proper multiplayer experience. Match up these three improvements to form the ultimate (albeit decidedly non-portable) version of Puzzle Quest!
On Thursday May 3rd at 4:00 AM EDT, four new Gears of War maps will be hitting Xbox Live Marketplace as part of the "Hidden Fronts" Multiplayer Map Pack. Running you 800 Microsoft Points, you'll be able to do battle on Process, Garden, Subway, and Bullet Marsh. For those of you concerned about the price, fret not, as you'll be able to download the pack for free four months later, on September 3rd, 2007. We've got the map descriptions from the press release after the break, but the question we've got for you is this: Are you going to get the maps now, or wait a bit first to see if it's worth your hard earned points and hold off till they're free in the fall?
"Bullet Marsh: In this Kryll-infested swamp, an old generator still powers the area lights. A few stray bullets could easily knock out the generator, leaving combatants to fend for themselves against the Kryll.
Garden: This overgrown and crumbling conservatory still has a working fertilization and pesticide system. This system can pose a serious hazard to anyone who ventures into the greenhouse without first venting the air.
Process: Teams must fight for control of this subterranean Imulsion processing plant, still active despite the cessation of the Pendulum wars.
Subway: Timgad's Central Subway station used to serve as a central hub for commuters. Now the tunnels are crawling with Locust."
The official Halo 3 website has updated with new artwork and details on Bungie's shooter sequel - including our first glimpse at the third instalment's revamped pistol.
According to the website listing, the M6D pistol has a "relatively fast rate of fire and good accuracy", while series loyalists will be pleased to hear that it also sports a 2x zoom - so hopefully it won't be as rubbish as Halo 2's magnum.
Elsewhere on the site there are more plot details surrounding the Elite's new-found alliance with humans, some mild spoilers on returning heroes (and baddies) in the characters section and some lovely artwork that we've included below.
Go on then, head on over to the Halo 3 website and go a bit mental.
Microsoft has confirmed that the new premium (i.e. you have to pay for them) Gears of War maps will be cropping up on Xbox Live Marketplace this Thursday May 3.
Four maps are included in the 800 Microsoft point (£6.80) Hidden Fronts map pack, and they all sound so tempting even our stingy tech man is reaching for his coin purse.
Microsoft and Epic have clashed over the pricing of the map pack, Epic wanting to provide it for free and MS craving your hard earned dollar - or pound. Meeting in the middle, the two have decided to sell the pack for now and provide it for free after September 3 in four months time.
Via the magic of copy and paste, here's what to expect from the new maps:
Bullet Marsh: In this Kryll-infested swamp, an old generator still powers the area lights. A few stray bullets could easily knock out the generator, leaving combatants to fend for themselves against the Kryll.
Garden: This overgrown and crumbling conservatory still has a working fertilization and pesticide system. This system can pose a serious hazard to anyone who ventures into the greenhouse without first venting the air.
Process: Teams must fight for control of this subterranean Imulsion processing plant, still active despite the cessation of the Pendulum wars.
Subway: Timgads Central Subway station used to serve as a central hub for commuters. Now the tunnels are crawling with Locust.
Sony has scored its second No. 1 in the all-formats software chart with PlayStation 2 exclusive God of War II, says our old friend GamesIndustry.biz.
At No. 2 is the newly released RPG Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, which Chart-Track said is the second fastest-selling online-only PC title after World of Warcraft. Meanwhile the PlayStation 3 version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion re-entered the All Format chart at No. 3 - despite the fact the new PS3 version game isn't being sold by leading high street retailer GAME.
Perennial favourite Wii Play dropped one place to No. 4 while last week's No. 1, Pokémon Ranger, was down in fifth place.
Elsewhere, Sony scored two new first-party new entries with SingStar Pop Hits entering the chart at No. 6, while Buzz!: The Mega Quiz went in at No. 16.
Meanwhile, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dropped from No. 2 to No. 7. Harvest Moon DS was down four places to No. 8, followed by Brain Training in ninth place. Virtua Tennis 3 went up two spots to round out the chart at No. 10.
New entries in this week's top 40 include Diddy Kong Racing DS at No. 13 and Rebellion's Free Running at No. 33. There are several re-entries, such as Sonic and the Secret Rings, Bad Boys II and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
The highest climber is Hotel Dusk: Room 215, which leapt from No. 22 into eleventh place. The week's biggest faller is Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time down, from No. 8 to No. 27.
Though several retailers jumped the street date, the Xbox 360 Elite did not officially go on sale until yesterday. The new edition of Microsoft's popular console sports a sleek new black finish, a 120GB hard drive, and HDMI audio-video output. It also has a higher price of $479--$300 more than the stand-alone 120GB HDD sold separately to existing 360 owners.
Ironically, the 120GB HDD does come with a piece of equipment not included in the Xbox 360 Elite--a cable to transfer content from older 20GB 360 HDDs. This comes as no surprise, as Microsoft said the Elite would not come with the accessory when it announced the Elite back in March. The company's rationale was that the Elite is intended for consumers who hadn't purchased a 360 yet, so no transfer should be necessary.
Following weeks of grumbling on game blogs, Microsoft is offering data transfer cables for free to Xbox 360 Elite owners for a "limited" time. However, to obtain a cable, gamers must first jump through a few bureaucratic hoops. First, they must download, print, and fill out an authorization form with both consoles' serial numbers. Said form must then be sent via standard US mail to a redemption center in Indiana, which will then send out an Xbox 360 data migration kit gratis.
Once the kit is received, its cable is connected to the old Xbox 360 and the Elite's 120GB drive. Then the transfer--which can be performed only once--commences, erasing any existing data on the 120GB. Said data will then be replaced with all nonmovie content from the old 20GB, which is then itself blanked. The cable is thrown out, the 120GB drive is connected to the new console, and--voila!--the Elite is complete.
Though cumbersome, the data transfer process will likely prove only a mild headache to the tech-savvy consumer. However, some of those same key customers are voicing their frustration about a potentially maddening side effect of transferring Xbox Live Arcade Games. Said frustration has even prompted some Elite owners to swear off all future XBLA purchases.
Why all the fuss? As anyone who has ever brought a 360 HDD to a friend's house (or had to replace a broken system) knows, Microsoft's digital rights management (DRM) software ties each Arcade game on said HDD to a single console. When the HDD is removed and attached to another 360, the games are playable only in demo form unless said console is online and signed into Xbox Live. Even then, transferred XBLA titles can be played only with the gamer profile used to buy the game, not other profiles.
The widely read tech blog Ars Technica vented about the fact the DRM affects XBLA games transferred from regular 360s to Elites--even though the same person owns both. "Why can't this be something that turns on when you move the games, and then you can call and get them unlocked again?" Kuchera said. "If I bring my Elite to a friend's house that doesn't have ethernet in the living room, we can't play Geometry Wars? That's silly."
The DRM on XBLA games also affects television content downloaded on Xbox Live Marketplace--and is apparently permanent. "While all of your Xbox Live Arcade games and Xbox Live Marketplace TV shows will transfer [to the Elite HDD], you will have to be connected to Xbox Live (to verify your identity) in order to access that content," the company said in a statement. "This process is permanent and we advise [you to] not transfer your data if you wish to access it while offline."
While TV shows bought from Marketplace can be transferred to and watched on Xbox Live-connected Elites, movies rented from the service cannot. "In all cases, movie rentals downloaded from Xbox Live will not be available after content transfer," said Microsoft. "If you have movie rentals, watch them first!"
Everyone's panties are getting all tied up in a bunch after a recent IGN Mailbag question revealed a lot more in the answer than previously known:
Time Crisis 4
Have you guys heard of any rumors or anything that would involve seeing any information regarding time crisis for the wii?
Sorry, but it doesn't look likely. Time Crisis 4 will be coming exclusively to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 complete with a pretty sweet wireless gun, so say little, dirty birds. However, no Wii version is currently planned.
-Matt
Although asking if Time Crisis would be available for the Wii is a valid question (even it was supposed to be a Playstation exclusive game), it seems that some heads were scratched when there was a confident thumbs up pointing in the direction of Xbox getting the game as well. Does this mean that a wireless gun controller will come out for the Xbox 360 to compliment the GunCon controller that will be coming out on Playstation? No official word has come out of Namco Bandai, but if the PS3 (with GunCon) version will be release November of this year, then surely we'll will find out before then. Right?
The first batch of screenshots has been released for the Xbox 360 version of Sega's excellent Virtua Fighter 5. And would you be surprised to learn they don't look that different from the already-available PS3 version? Didn't think so...
Only three shots have so far slipped through the net from the Japanese version, showing fighting action on three difference levels.
If anything, the shots don't look as crisp and sharp as ones released for the PS3 version, which came out back in March. But there's still time for extra spit and polish, as the 360 version doesn't ship for a while yet. 'Summer' is the projected date Sega's aiming for.
Specific details on the 360 version are being kept under wraps for the time being, but Sega plans to hold a press day later month where we'll hopefully get some quality time with awesome fighting game.
Rumours are circulating that Microsoft will release the promised Forza 2 demo this week, but with the clock ticking the company's running out of time to prove the rumours true.
We've not heard anything from Microsoft on a release date for the demo as yet - but who knows, maybe it'll surprise us tomorrow or Friday. Or maybe not.
Recent confirmation that the demo won't feature Xbox Live play may have been a kick in the teeth, but we'll still be able to take over 20 vehicles for a spin in offline races against 7 AI opponents.
Screenshots showing off the new Gears of War multiplayer maps that'll release on Xbox Live on Thursday, May 3 this week have arrived - we've uploaded them here for you to clap eyes on.
The maps - four of - are being bundled in the Hidden Fronts pack, which will cost you 800 Microsoft Points (£6.80) on release. The pack will be offered free of charge as of September 3.
Just in case you missed yesterday's confirmation on the release of the map pack, here's details on the included multiplayer levels:
Bullet Marsh: In this Kryll-infested swamp, an old generator still powers the area lights. A few stray bullets could easily knock out the generator, leaving combatants to fend for themselves against the Kryll.
Garden: This overgrown and crumbling conservatory still has a working fertilization and pesticide system. This system can pose a serious hazard to anyone who ventures into the greenhouse without first venting the air.
Process: Teams must fight for control of this subterranean Imulsion processing plant, still active despite the cessation of the Pendulum wars.
Subway: Timgads Central Subway station used to serve as a central hub for commuters. Now the tunnels are crawling with Locust.
Enjoy the screenshots.
The launch trailer for Spider-Man 3: The Videogame will have Spidey fans crawling up walls in excitement - look, there it is, running in our video player on the right.
Running for just over a minute and a half, it's wall-to-wall Spidey action with Black Suit Spider-Man on show along with plenty of confrontations with the superhero's arch enemies -Kingpin, Scorpion, The Green Goblin, Sandman, Venom... It's a long list that promises to make this the biggest Spider-Man game yet. Cross fingers it doesn't disappoint.
We'll find out exactly what Activision's achieved with the Spider-Man 3 game when it launches on May 4 (or May 18 on PS3). In the meantime you can read our recent preview for info.
Although the two stars Dante and Nero are apparently very different (even though they look like the same bloke wearing different coats) Capcom says that the two console versions of Devil May Cry 4 will be pretty much identical.
Speaking to IGN, an unnamed DMC4 dev commented: "As far as the Xbox [360] and the PS3 are concerned, the capabilities and the features in the game, we expect will be the same. Our plan is to pretty much make them identical. You may be able to use some of the functionality in the PS3 as like a switch, but nothing spectacular."
So PS3 owners can feel safe in the knowledge that those pesky Xbox types are playing exactly the same game. As for PC gamers; keep your fingers crossed.
Devil May Cry 4, all going well, will be out before the end of the year.
The Xbox 360's lack of a guaranteed hard disk is creating limitations in Grand Theft Auto IV's development, Rockstar has acknowledged.
During an interview with our partners in crime at Official PlayStation Magazine, Rockstar's creative vice president Dan Houser was asked: "On PS3 you've got a guarantee that every machine is going to have a hard-drive and, with Blu-ray, you've got plenty of storage, whereas on Xbox 360 there's no guarantee of a hard-drive and you're working with the DVD format. Does that create limitations?" To which he replied, "Yep."
He continued, "To be honest with you we haven't solved all those riddles yet." The difficulties aren't limited to working on Microsoft's box, as Houser explains that "both have enormous challenges" and that "both have their own particular pleasures and pains".
Rockstar hasn't said anything about a target SKU between the two consoles, but they're currently demoing the game to press running on an Xbox 360 - so we wouldn't worry too much if you've only got Microsoft's console. Look for more on GTA IV in the next few weeks.
Hironobu Sakaguchi, Final Fantasy creator and founder of Blue Dragon dev Mistwalker, has come out with the quality line regards 'Father of PlayStation' Ken Kutaragi - he says he doesn't like him.
In an interview featuring in EGM magazine's latest issue, Sakaguchi was asked why he had no games in development for PS3. "The machine's architecture is tricky, and I don't like Ken Kutaragi", he replied.
Meanwhile Microsoft, he said, needs to sort out its marketing strategy in Japan, calling the commercial for Windows Vista "terrible".
"There are a lot of excellent games on the 360, far better games than what's on the Wii or PS3. But not a lot of people in Japan have a clear idea what games like Gears of War are all about," Sakaguchi commented.
And as for Wii, he called the system intriguing but explained he has no plans right now to make a game for Nintendo's new console.
A 20-minute documentary of Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace.
It takes us behind the scenes to see how the full-motion-video (FMV!) cinematics were made, and features exclusive interviews with the star-packed cast, including Lando from Star Wars, Michael "Sam Fisher" Ironside and even Sawyer from Lost.
There's also some chin-wags with the cinematographers and the costume designers that made futuristic war come to life in your living room. Apparently.
The game is due out on Xbox 360 on 11th May. Both single-player and multiplayer demos are available on Live now.
Amanda Schaffer has written a refreshingly balanced piece about the connection between video games and violence. Instead of regurgitating the typical reactionary voices in this debate, she looks at what scientific studies suggest about the issue. From the article:
'Pathological acts of course have multiple, complex causes and are terribly hard to predict. And clearly, millions of people play Counter-Strike, Halo, and Doom and never commit crimes. But the subtler question is whether exposure to video-game violence is one risk factor for increased aggression: Is it associated with shifts in attitudes or responses that may predispose kids to act out? A large body of evidence suggests that this may be so ... Given this, it makes sense to be specific about which games may be linked to harmful effects and which to neutral or good ones. Better research is also needed to understand whether some kids are more vulnerable to video-game violence, and how exposure interacts with other risk factors for aggression like poverty, psychological disorders, and a history of abuse.
Tom Clancy's EndWar has been announced, but we have yet to see what the game will look like. That is until now, because Xboxygen posted magazine scans from the latest EGM which features exclusive EndWar screens. From what we can tell from these (mostly blurry) scans is that EndWar will be a very detailed and personal RTS. Though, we're not sure how representative the screens are of the final game, but no matter what EndWar has a lot going for it. Make the jump for the whole batch of EndWar scanned goods.
Anyone willing to put their necks on the line and speculate to how innovative (and fun) EndWar will end up being?
Screenshots are here. Leave feedback via comments.
Yakumo of Segagaga Domain is releasing the last of his Retro Core retro game show series, Retro Core: Volume 32:
The time has come although I wish it hadn't. Retro Core Volume 32 is the final Retro Core for the foreseeable future. I just no longer have the time to produce the show anymore now that I've become a father. Still, it's been a great 3 years and within that Time Retro Core has covered over 390 games.
In the final volume of Retro Core we take a look at the PC Engine and it's games. There are many PC Engine games that are also featured on the Mega Drive. Retro Core compare 4 of them side by side as well as taking a look at some of my personal favorite PC Engine games from my small collection. As well as that we've got Japanese game adds and the following games.
Dreamcast - Sakura Taisen 3 (Special Promotion movie)
Dreamcast - Shenmue 2 (Special Promotion movie)
Dreamcast - D2
Arcade - Wild Riders
Sega Saturn - Need For Speed
Sega Saturn - Burning Rangers
Sega Saturn - Duke Nukem' 3D
Sega Saturn - NiGHTS into Dreams (Game of the month)
Sega Saturn - Hyper Dual
Mega Drive - Aero Blasters
Mega Drive - Golden Axe
Mega Drive - Valis III
Mega Drive - Zero Wing
PC Engine - Aero Blasters
PC Engine CD - Golden Axe
PC Engine CD - Valis III
PC Engine Super CD - Zero Wing
PC Engine Arcade CD - Garoundensetsu Special (Fatal Fury Special)
PC Engine - Final Soldier
PC Engine - Space Harrier
PC Engine - Download
PC Engine - Paranoia
PC Engine - Ninja Spirits
PC Engine - Pop'n Twinbee
PC Engine Super CD - Psychic Storm
PC Engine Arcade CD - World Heroes 2
PC Engine Super CD - L-DIS
PC Engine Super CD - Shubibiman 3
PC Engine CD - Horror Story
PC Engine Super CD - Ranma 1/2
Mobile Phone - Shutokou Battle Evolution
Mobile Phone - Star Ward mobile Pod Racer
Mobile Phone - Ridge Racer Wide Screen
Mobile Phone - Cotton Magical Night Dreams
The article is huge so I will post the summed up version from the Sega boards!
GamesRadar posted:
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By now, PlayStation 3 gamers have had their hands on the superb Virtua Fighter 5 for over two months - and we can attest, it's a fantastic fighter on that platform. Guess what? The first glimpses we've had of the 360 version, thanks to a trip to developer AM2's headquarters in Tokyo, suggest that the game is going to be just as good - if not better - on the Xbox 360.
We do know that the game will be receiving some tweaks over the PS3 version, including better anti-aliasing - to make the graphics look smoother. The game will also get analog control - the arcade version, of course, doesn't use it, but the unresponsive Xbox 360 D-pad makes it a must.
The one complaint we had with the PS3 version - that the computer players weren't very realistic or fun to fight against - is being overhauled for the Xbox 360 release with much improved artificial intelligence based on newer arcade data.
Use any Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 console from USA/Asia, that use 110V current, in countries that use 220V like Europe with this convenient power adapter. Plus it looks stylish and is very safe for your console.
Independent game and toy developer The Behemoth announced today the first shipment of exclusive handmade trophies honoring the top players of Alien Hominid® HD on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Xbox LIVE Arcade on the Xbox 360™ is the premier destination for digitally distributed, high definition original and classic games.
The trophies, built with love and elbow grease at the developer's studio, are being mailed out to players who have scaled the heights of the Alien Hominid HD leaderboards.
"We wanted to find a way to recognize the top players of Alien Hominid HD," said Alien Hominid HD producer John Baez. "Making some spiffy trophies here in the office from genuinely simulated gold seemed like just the ticket."
The trophies are customized individually for each player, with their Gamertag, high score and date etched into the trophy's base. The select few who manage to maintain the top position for a combined total of three weeks will be catapulted into the Behemoth Hall of Fame, where they will bask in the light of gamer stardom forever; or, at least, for as long as The Behemoth keeps the Hall of Fame posted on its website.
FACT SHEET FOR ALL VERSIONS (Gameplay information based on console and PC versions)
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Based on Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS property and upcoming live-action feature film from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures due out on July 27th, TRANSFORMERS: The Game lets gamers control the outcome in the battle for Earth as they choose to protect it as AUTOBOTS or destroy it as DECEPTICONS. Players will also experience the unstoppable power and massive scale of their favorite ROBOTS IN DISGUISE such as BUMBLEBEE, BARRICADE and others.
KEY FEATURES:
Protect Or Destroy The Earth – As the TRANSFORMERS robot’s war comes to Earth, gamers make the choice to join the AUTOBOTS in protecting our planet or to join the DECEPTICONS in destroying it. With dual campaigns, the fate of the world is in players’ hands.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE – Instantly change from a larger than life robot to a high-powered vehicle such as a sports car, fighter jet or helicopter. Seamless transformations leave enemies in the dust or enhance players’ combat strategy with a range of options in both vehicle and robot modes that take full advantage of the characters’ dual forms.
The World Is Your Playground – Players crush, topple and wreck every object, including buildings and vehicles, in their path or use the objects as weapons. It is up to the gamer to decide how best to use their surrounding environment.
Freedom of Choice – An unprecedented line-up lets gamers experience the massive scale, unique abilities and sheer strength of an army of characters from the TRANSFORMERS universe when they choose to play as OPTIMUS PRIME, MEGATRON, IRONHIDE, STARSCREAM, BUMBLEBEE and more.
Variety of Combat – For head-to-head battles, fans engage in melee combat that reflects each TRANSFORMERS robot’s character, scale, weight and power along with melee weapons and special moves unique to each character. The game’s ranged combat offers a wide array of projective weapons designed to take out enemies from afar.
PlayStation® Portable Features – The PSP version features 20 playable AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS, from both the live-action film and previous generations, that battle through an enhanced version of the film’s storyline. Players can customize their character by choosing more than 10 different weapon types in both single and Ad Hoc multiplayer gameplay.
Since the early era of video games, "Tron" has been synonymous as both a landmark CGI film and the engaging arcade games inspired by that film. In honor of the 25th anniversary of "Tron," Disney Interactive Studios today announced the classic arcade games Tron and Discs of Tron will be re-released this summer through Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system. Xbox LIVE Arcade is the premier destination for digitally distributed, high-definition original and classic games. "The 'Tron' film has captured the imaginations of video game players and film fans for generations with its ground-breaking visuals and action-filled story," said Craig Relyea, vice president of marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. "The classic arcade games Tron and Discs of Tron are returning this summer through Xbox LIVE Arcade with new features and options for the film's 25th anniversary."
Each game includes the original version as well as an enhanced version with new graphics and audio features. Through Xbox LIVE Arcade, players can also compete in both games against another player in four online modes.
In Tron, which first appeared in arcades in 1982, players must complete four increasingly challenging game types to advance through levels. Players battle tank forces, engage in treacherous light cycle combat, attack the MCP cone and fight off grid bugs to enter the I/O tower.
Discs of Tron, a follow-up 1983 arcade game, enables players to fight Sark, the defender of Master Control Program, in one-on-one battles taking place in three-dimensional futuristic arenas. Players must move between platforms while throwing energy-charged discs at Sark and deflecting oncoming discs to avoid being "derezzed."
Published by Disney Interactive Studios and developed by Backbone Charlottetown, Tron and Discs of Tron are rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Both games will be available individually this summer exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade.
LucasArts and development partner Day 1 Studios today announced Fracture™, in which players reshape the battlefields in a futuristic conflict with global implications. This epic war fought on American soil pits cybernetically enhanced soldiers against warriors augmented by the benefits of advanced genetic engineering. The company that brought you Star Wars and Indiana Jones, as well as successful new intellectual properties such as Mercenaries (the No. 1 new IP in 2005) and Thrillville (the No. 1 original children's IP of 2006), presents a new franchise full of groundbreaking next-generation gameplay, an intriguing storyline and compelling characters.
“Exciting new intellectual properties serve a vital role to the growth of LucasArts,” said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. “Fracture represents the next step in this company initiative, complete with the intriguing story and compelling characters audiences expect of a LucasArts release.”
Fracture advances players to the year 2161, where ecological and seismological disasters have radically altered the planet’s landscape, and a clash in ideologies places society on the threshold of war. Players set foot on the frontlines of this epic conflict in the role of Mason Briggs, a demolitions expert fighting for the Atlantic Alliance, the side that relies upon cybernetic enhancement. Pitted against the genetically enhanced soldiers of the Pacifican army, players will experience a revolution in 22nd-century warfare. In utilizing the core gameplay mechanic of Fracture, a destructive next-generation technology known as Terrain Deformation, players are equipped with an arsenal of futuristic weaponry to strategically reshape their surroundings on the fly. Every action they perform dynamically reshapes the earth in ways no videogame has ever seen. When Briggs throws a tectonic grenade on a level battlefield, the ground blasts upward to provide access to an otherwise unreachable area. Moving on, when he comes across what appears to be an impenetrable structure, Briggs utilizes the alt-fire functionality on his rocket launcher to create enormous craters to burrow underneath the wall. Surrounded on all sides by enemies, Briggs heaves a vortex grenade, creating a swirling tornado-like mass of boulder, dirt and debris to dispatch his foes. These are just a few samples of the possibilities for Terrain Deformation. Players not only change the battlefield – they change the face of the battle itself.
“LucasArts sees simulation-based gameplay as an essential component of a true next-gen experience, and that’s exactly what Fracture delivers,” said Peter Hirschmann, vice president of product development at LucasArts. “Day 1 Studios has done a phenomenal job of creating true next-gen tech that not only dazzles on a visual level but also serves as a core gameplay mechanic. Unlike many other next-gen games on the market, Fracture simply isn’t possible in the previous generation of consoles.”
“LucasArts’ excitement for Fracture is palpable, and it only inspires us even further to ensure the game lives up to its lofty expectations,” said Denny Thorley, president of Day 1. “The opportunity to work with a company such as LucasArts, that knows not only how to launch large entertainment properties, but also successfully bring new IP to market, is truly a privilege. With Terrain Deformation leading the way, we know we’re creating something special, and we have absolutely no doubts that LucasArts is the only company to make sure Fracture receives its due.”
More information about the game can be found at the official Fracture website, www.fracturegame.com, which will continue to release details throughout the year.
LucasArts and development partner Day 1 Studios today announced Fracture™, in which players reshape the battlefields in a futuristic conflict with global implications. This epic war fought on American soil pits cybernetically enhanced soldiers against warriors augmented by the benefits of advanced genetic engineering. The company that brought you Star Wars and Indiana Jones, as well as successful new intellectual properties such as Mercenaries (the No. 1 new IP in 2005) and Thrillville (the No. 1 original children's IP of 2006), presents a new franchise full of groundbreaking next-generation gameplay, an intriguing storyline and compelling characters.
“Exciting new intellectual properties serve a vital role to the growth of LucasArts,” said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. “Fracture represents the next step in this company initiative, complete with the intriguing story and compelling characters audiences expect of a LucasArts release.”
Fracture advances players to the year 2161, where ecological and seismological disasters have radically altered the planet’s landscape, and a clash in ideologies places society on the threshold of war. Players set foot on the frontlines of this epic conflict in the role of Mason Briggs, a demolitions expert fighting for the Atlantic Alliance, the side that relies upon cybernetic enhancement. Pitted against the genetically enhanced soldiers of the Pacifican army, players will experience a revolution in 22nd-century warfare. In utilizing the core gameplay mechanic of Fracture, a destructive next-generation technology known as Terrain Deformation, players are equipped with an arsenal of futuristic weaponry to strategically reshape their surroundings on the fly. Every action they perform dynamically reshapes the earth in ways no videogame has ever seen. When Briggs throws a tectonic grenade on a level battlefield, the ground blasts upward to provide access to an otherwise unreachable area. Moving on, when he comes across what appears to be an impenetrable structure, Briggs utilizes the alt-fire functionality on his rocket launcher to create enormous craters to burrow underneath the wall. Surrounded on all sides by enemies, Briggs heaves a vortex grenade, creating a swirling tornado-like mass of boulder, dirt and debris to dispatch his foes. These are just a few samples of the possibilities for Terrain Deformation. Players not only change the battlefield – they change the face of the battle itself.
“LucasArts sees simulation-based gameplay as an essential component of a true next-gen experience, and that’s exactly what Fracture delivers,” said Peter Hirschmann, vice president of product development at LucasArts. “Day 1 Studios has done a phenomenal job of creating true next-gen tech that not only dazzles on a visual level but also serves as a core gameplay mechanic. Unlike many other next-gen games on the market, Fracture simply isn’t possible in the previous generation of consoles.”
“LucasArts’ excitement for Fracture is palpable, and it only inspires us even further to ensure the game lives up to its lofty expectations,” said Denny Thorley, president of Day 1. “The opportunity to work with a company such as LucasArts, that knows not only how to launch large entertainment properties, but also successfully bring new IP to market, is truly a privilege. With Terrain Deformation leading the way, we know we’re creating something special, and we have absolutely no doubts that LucasArts is the only company to make sure Fracture receives its due.”
More information about the game can be found at the official Fracture website, www.fracturegame.com, which will continue to release details throughout the year.
Penny Arcade, creators of the popular online comic strip of the same name, today announced key details about this year's Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), the game- culture celebration to be held Aug. 24-26 at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle.
Providing the PAX 2007 keynote address will be writer, actor and geek icon Wil Wheaton. Best known for his role as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Wheaton has gone on to appear in a number of films and become a prolific writer. Wheaton has authored two books, Dancing Barefoot and Just a Geek, maintains a popular blog at www.wilwheaton.net, and is a frequent contributor to a number of game, media and tech Web sites.
One of the highlights of each year's PAX is the Omegathon competition, which pits PAX attendees against each other in a tabletop, videogame and computer game competition that spans all three days of the festival. Twenty "Omeganauts" are chosen at random from pre-registered attendees to compete in the single-elimination tournament, culminating in a final match on stage in front of thousands of their peers. The final game has yet to be revealed (previous final round games were Pong, Atari's Combat, and Tetris), but the grand prize has been announced: a trip for two to the Tokyo Game Show, along with $5,000 in spending cash. The 2007 Tokyo Game Show will be held Sept. 22-23 at the Makuhari Messe convention complex just outside Tokyo.
"PAX has grown by leaps and bounds each year," said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade, "and the Omegathon grand prize has grown along with it. This year, with a projected attendance of 30,000 and a brand-new venue, we're upping the Omegathon stakes again with the biggest and best prize yet."
Also announced today was PAX 2007 headlining band The Minibosses, known for their instrumental rock covers of videogame music. The Minibosses have covered videogame themes including Ninja Gaiden, Metroid and Super Mario Bros. 2.
Other musical guests at PAX 2007 will include The OneUps, MC Frontalot, Jonathan Coulton, Freezepop, The Neskimos and Optimus Rhyme. Microsoft, Sony, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts/Mythic, Sierra/Vivendi Universal, Wizards of the Coast, NCSoft, Sabertooth Games, Telltale Games, the Behemoth, Namco- Bandai, Upper Deck, Wizkids, ArenaNet, Harmonix and Rockstar top the list of over 50 announced companies exhibiting at PAX 2007.
The World Series of Video Games (WSVG), Presented by Intel, the world circuit of video game tournaments, announced today that a record number of attendees showed up for the kick-off of the 2007 series this week, with more than 25,000 people showing up at the event for yesterday’s matches. This followed on a tremendous first-day turnout of 11,898.
"We were amazed to see such a turnout—there were 2,000 people in line outside who we could not let in,” said Matthew Ringel, president of the World Series of Video Games. “Last year’s event in China was the biggest stop on the 2006 tour with 17,000 over four days, and this year’s attendance numbers offer an incredibly promising beginning for our second season. Next year, we may have to find a stadium!”
The Wuhan event, the first of six events planned for the WSVG’s second season this year, is occurring during China’s “Golden Week” holiday and is one of the official welcome events for the Sixth Intercity Games of the People's Republic of China, the last major sporting event in China leading up to the 2008 Chinese Olympic Games.
Nearly $50,000 in cash prizes will be distributed at this week’s event, which features titles including “World of Warcraft®: The Burning Crusade,” “CounterStrike,” and “Warcraft® III: The Frozen Throne™“
World Series Schedule of Events:
April 30 - May 3 Wuhan, China
June 21 - 24 Louisville, Kentucky
July 5 - 8 Dallas, Texas
Aug. 23 - 26 Orlando, Florida
October TBA Major European city
Nov. 29 - Dec. 2 Jönköping, Sweden
About The World Series of Video Games
The World Series of Video Games is the world’s premier video game tournament circuit, which recently began its second season. In 2006, the World Series of Video Games attracted more than 90,000 attendees, produced 250 hours of broadband video, and 20 hours of programming on CBS, MTV, CSTV and GamePlay HD. Registration for all events, a full list of rules, and all prizing for circuit events is available on the WSVG website at www.thewsvg.com.
iGames, the world’s leading game center organization, is pleased to announce The Gamers Tour, an ongoing series of competitive tournaments and events for gamers who like their summer gameplay hot and fun. Beginning in May and running through the end of the year, the Gamers Tour brings communities of gamers together to experience the excitement of competitive play in the social, fun environments that are iGames LAN centers.
Presented in association with CEVO, who will administer the WAN portion of the competitions, the Gamers Tour finds iGames teaming their elite member LAN centers with a variety of corporate sponsors to offer competitive play opportunities with impressive prize pools for six of today’s top competitive games, including Gears of War™, Halo™ 2, Call of Duty® 2, Counter-Strike™ 1.6, Counter-Strike Source™, and Command & Conquer™ 3: Tiberium Wars.
“With over 600 game centers in the US, Canada and Mexico, we look forward to bringing regional and national tournaments for all gamers to enjoy,” said Robyn Stein, Events Director of iGames. “Just like in traditional sports, localized clubs provide perfect venues for competitors of all skill levels. iGames and the game center industry look forward to supporting the continued development of eSports with the “clubs” of the games industry.”
Prize pools among 3 classifications of tournaments range from $2,000-$20,000. Whether a casual or serious competitor, gamers of all levels can find a tournament that appeals to them.
These classifications include Open Tournaments, which are open to all, on a first-come, first-served basis. Invitational Tournaments, by contrast, are intended for top-placing individuals and teams from previously held Open Tournaments, while Restricted Tournaments are intended for the more casual player and are restricted to teams and players that have placed in a recent Open Tournament.
For the first round of events, the competitions are all open play LAN/WAN events, except for the iZ3D CS 1.6 competition on 7/14-715, which will be online from LAN. For registration and rules, and to get the latest info on the Gamers Tour, visit www.igames.org
Premier publisher of interactive entertainment software, D3Publisher of America, Inc. (D3PA), will begin to bring titles to gamers through Xbox LIVE® Arcade later this year. Xbox LIVE Arcade on the Xbox 360™ is the premier destination for digitally distributed, high definition original and classic games. The first three titles Xbox 360 owners can expect to see from D3PA on the service are Mad Tracks, a racing game that takes its inspiration from the pull-back-and-go toy cars of gamers’ youth, RocketBowl, Xbox LIVE Arcade’s first bowling game, which brings the fun of miniature golf to the bowling alley, and Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, a downloadable version of the Nintendo DS™ and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system game which blends match-three puzzle gameplay with strategy, character-building elements and a persistent storyline set in the beloved Warlords universe.
“What ties all of D3PA’s titles together are not genre or size of game or developer, but an unsurpassable element of fun,” said Yoji Takenaka, executive vice president and chief operating officer, D3PA. “We look forward to capitalizing on Xbox LIVE Arcade’s wide reach and ease of use to bring gamers unique titles that fit the bill of delivering the highest enjoyment factors.”
Mad Tracks, RocketBowl and Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords are only the first of many games that D3PA plans to make available on Xbox LIVE Arcade, reinforcing the company’s commitment to fostering strong relationships with developers of all sizes and helping them deliver their creations into the hands of the public. All three games also support the publisher’s primary aim to bring top-quality game experiences to the widest range of audiences possible; each will be quick to download, easy to pick up, but challenging to master—thereby providing hours of gameplay.
Mad Tracks was developed by Load, Inc., Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords was developed by Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd., and RocketBowl, an original Large Animal game, is being developed for Xbox LIVE Arcade by 21-6.
2K Sports, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals All-Star first baseman and power hitter, will be the cover athlete for The BIGS. The BIGS is an innovative, action-packed pick-up-and-play MLB® licensed video game that will be available this summer.
"The BIGS celebrates the heroes of Major League Baseball® and the epic moments of professional baseball," said Erik Whiteford, Vice President of Marketing at 2K Sports. "Throughout his career, Albert Pujols has delivered unforgettable plays at the most amazing times. His larger-than-life abilities and flair for the dramatic embody the spirit we are striving to capture in this game, making Pujols the perfect cover athlete."
"I'm honored to represent this revolutionary new baseball title from 2K Sports," said Albert Pujols. "I've been blessed to have played in some monumental baseball games in my career and it's amazing to see how The BIGS captures the most dramatic plays and brings them to life in a baseball video game."
As the youngest MLB player to hit 250 home runs, Albert Pujols has garnered many accolades in his young career. With three Silver Slugger awards, Pujols added his first Gold Glove in 2006 playing for the 2006 World Series Champions, the St. Louis Cardinals. The bigger the moment, the greater Pujols performs, making him a natural choice as the official representative player for The BIGS.
The BIGS will be available this summer for the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and Nintendo's WiiTM.
Gamers no longer want to play games that last 60 or 100 hours according to Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack.
"Legacy of Kain had about sixty hours of play, but games have changed. People don't want that any more. I don't care how good the game is, I don't want to play something that's one hundred hours long," Dyack told GamesIndustry.biz in an interview published today.
"If we're going to craft an epic story we decided we had to divide it into manageable chunks for the consumer," he said, referring to Silicon Knights' proposed Too Human trilogy for Xbox 360, the first instalment of which is currently in development. "At the same time we wanted to do a game that it has a chance to evolve and take advantage of development changes.
"We think the future is all about content. By getting our flow of process together for the first game we can then look at it and evolve the way we work for the next games in the series. We didn't want to have to start from scratch again after the first Too Human. Is it gutsy to promise so much? Yes, but making games is hard."
However, Dyack warns that even if you split your story into chunks, you can't expect every player to keep up. "Each game needs to be self contained," he argues. "That was flaw in the The Lord of the Rings movies. Too Human will be self-contained across each game of the trilogy.
"There'll be more background for those that play all three. It's not a hook, it's a promise that if players want something epic, this is where to come. What we're trying to do is create something that moves the industry towards a very content-rich environment. I love trilogy books and series. We've got a lot of things to say in Too Human and we couldn't do it in anything shorter than three games."
Do you agree or disagree with the "Gamers want shorter, better games" comment ?
Dan Greenawalt has told CVG that he believes Forza Motorsport 2 can make you a better driver in the real world while the British School of Motoring recent said there's an indisputable link between gaming and dangerous driving.
The BSM recently surveyed 1000 young drivers and 27 percent of those questioned aged under 24 admitted they're more likely to take risks on the road after playing driving games. 34 percent went as far as saying that games made them a better driver.
BSM's road safety consultant Robin Cummins believes there's an "indisputable" link between gaming and dangerous driving: "With more than 200 young people killed each year due to speeding alone, it's crucial that they learn to 'keep it real' on the road."
When asked if he thought people could becomes better drivers if they're good at Forza 2, Greenawalt replied, "Absolutely. I think the things you learn in Forza Motorsport apply in the real world. A lot of people can play other similar racing games - there are a lot of games that are kind of in the middle of sim and arcade - and they learn that if you're at the edge of traction and you brake, you'll get more turning. Well that's just not true, and it'll get you killed on a track."
Greenawalt continued, "If you're on the edge of traction on your front tyres turning and you brake, you've now exceeded your traction and you're going to under steer straight off into a barrier. We've had people play these other games and then they play Forza and go 'wow, how come when I brake it doesn't turn more?' well, that's because it doesn't in the real world. I think we're teaching people how to drive well in a safe place. And it's less expensive than driving on a real track day."
THQ has parted ways with the Xbox 360 version of racing sim GTR, CVG has learned.
"THQ and SimBin are no longer working together on the GTR Xbox 360 videogame", a THQ spokesperson told us this afternoon, adding that "Our focus within the racing genre is continuing to build THQ's internally developed Stuntman, Juiced and MX franchises."
GTR is a hardcore racing sim series that's already established on PC and the Xbox 360 iteration in the series was due to release this spring. Whether GTR on Xbox 360 will still see the light of day now that THQ has dropped it is unknown.
GTR developer SimBin had not replied to a query regarding GTR on 360 at the time of writing.
THQ has confirmed it has "entered into a development agreement" with Big Huge Games on a new RPG, shortly after we posted news saying as much earlier today.
Unfortunately, the announcement's a complete disappointment on the game detail front, the only new piece of information given being that the game is due out in 2009. It's not even been named.
So, 'un-named RPG' is in development for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, Big Huge Games securing the talent of Ken Rolston for the project. Rolston, who is assuming the role of lead designer on the game, is an RPG heavyweight who has worked on the Elder Scrolls series and also a number of pen and paper RPGs.
Rolston has said he's "flabbergasted by the talent, craft and boundless energy of the Big Huge Games team. In such splendid company, I'm privileged to embark on a bold pilgrimage to create a refreshingly original RPG experience."
In another example of Microsoft's watertight security, a handful of poorly-snapped Halo 3 beta videos have emerged on the internet, revealing new equipment and previously unseen weapons.
The Chief's new gadget, adding to the X button-activated goodies such as the Bubble Shield, is a radar scrambler, demonstrated in by the hilarious American bloke filming these videos (one-handed, by the looks of it) adding decoy dots on the radar to fool your opponents.
You can also see Halo 3's new pistol in action, which was detailed for the first time this week. By the looks of it fans have gotten their wish and the long-missed sidearm has been given a much-needed power boost, unlike the toned-down pistol from Halo 2.
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars on Xbox 360 releases on May 11, so not long to wait now console generals. But in the meantime, here are six new screenshots to clap eyes on - and pretty sweet it's all looking too.
Of course, chances are you've already dipped a toe into the console Tiberium waters thanks to the demo that hit Live last month. If you've not downloaded it yet, take the plunge and hone those strategy skills in preparation for the game's full release.
Bungie is holding a compo that will get the lucky winner's emblem design into Halo 3.
Bungie's community mouth-piece Frankie's says, "David Candland, our UI artiste extraordinaire, asked, 'Wouldn't it be fun to have a Bnet reader design an emblem and include it in the shipping game?' Well wouldn't it? Of course it would. So we're going to give one lucky Bnet reader the chance to design an emblem to be emblazoned forever in Halo 3."
You can read the rules here but your emblem must be original. Don't copy anything as entries that look like other logos or corporate images will be ejected (same goes for National flags), says Bungie.
Now you too can "bend light". The Electrotwister provides safe, cool, flexible accent lighting for any Xbox 360 mod installation. Safely route the light around corners to trace major components, or use as an underglow or other indirect lighting. The Electrotwister is cool to the touch and can fit almost anywhere!
Specifications & extra information
The electrotwister is the most versatile lighting mod on the market today. It is a wire whose insulation glows brightly when powered by low voltage current. It requires no soldering, it is extremely easy to install. Can be used for highlighting details, or indirect lighting. It is recommended that you cover the cable with heatshrink or electrical tape in places that you don't need to see it glowing. A perfect mod for people who feel that typical case mods are limiting or too standardized.
1.5m of glowing cable
1 5v inverter
1 Energyser Y cable included
While it may have trouble prying folks away from their do-it-all GP2Xs, Plezo's new PMG-250 portable media player looks like it could attract the interest of at least a few nostalgic gamers, boasting some game emulation support in addition to the usual audio and video capabilities. Of course, you'll be somewhat limited in your gaming options, with the NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Sega Mega Drive (a.k.a. Genesis) the only consoles supported, although that should still be more than enough to help you re-learn some of those old school skills you may have forgotten. The device itself also looks to be decent enough, with a 2.5-inch LCD, 2GB of internal memory, and an SD slot for some sure-to-be-needed additional expansion. Not surprisingly, this one looks to be exclusive to Korea for the time being, where it'll set you back 169,000 won, or about $180.
Evidence is mounting that the next game in the Splinter Cell series will be called Conviction.
However, Ubisoft was unable to comment on the game this morning, and suggested we might find our more at the upcoming UbiDays event in Paris.
Details of the new game arose on Kotaku, which printed an excerpt from Pelaaja-magazine suggesting that Sam Fisher will take the role of a fugitive this time around.
That echoes what we've been hearing from other sources within the UK games industry, who've also mentioned the name "Splinter Cell: Conviction" and hinted at a premise that puts Sam on the run.
Microsoft has previously said that the game following Splinter Cell: Double Agent will be a console-exclusive on Xbox 360, which suggests we might see it on PC as well, but not PS3.
And Ubisoft recently announced a new Tom Clancy IP called EndWar - a strategy game combining elements of previous titles in the franchise.
It's all expected to come to a head at the UbiDays event in Paris, which takes place on 22nd and 23rd May.
It's becoming a familiar tune, and it's one we really don't mind hearing. Once again, Nintendo is topping the videogame charts in Japan, producing a pinnacle of payload payoff for both Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii. As reported by Japan's Weekly Famitsu magazine (the top source of gaming info in Japan), April 23 - 29 was all about Nintendo once again, as software sales continue to dominate on both the handheld and console fronts. Though specific numbers aren't given, the magazine reported on the top ten list for software sales. The following info is taken directly from that report:
Top Ten Japan Software Sales: 4/23 - 4/29
1. Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (DS)
2. Super Paper Mario (Wii)
3. Momotarou Dentetsu DS: Tokyo & Japan (DS)
4. Wii Sports (Wii)
5. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (Wii)
6. Gyakuten Saiban 4 (DS)
7. One Piece Unlimited Adventure (Wii)
8. Panel de Pon DS (DS)
9. Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (DS)
10. Wii Play (Wii)
So with Nintendo DS currently leading the pack with Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, both systems have five out of ten places on the list, showing an equal dominance of both handheld and console for Japan sales. No specific numbers were given, but we'll have the latest in US and Japan sales as the info becomes available. From the looks of it thus far, Nintendo is starting to take back the industry it's credited for creating, at least in Japan.
