Here's your chance to pre-order a copy of the 2004 GBADEV.ORG development competition game. The game is expected to start shipping in late May or early June, but as only 500 copies are available we strongly recommend you to pre-order today.

First class postage is included in the price, but to keep costs down only orders of 5 or more are insured/trackable.

Since a BIG part of the cost is paypal and postage fee's, the price / game goes down quite a lot when ordering several games...

Pre-order Now!
http://2004mbit.gbadev.org/order.php ...

The Dolwin site has been updated with this news:

Gamecube Bootrom Details

I updated Apploader documentation to version 1.1 (new info, regardling controller 4 strange poll). Also I added information about techincal details of Gamecube Bootrom. This is not final version of document (Part I only), but still its contain some valuable info. Only for developers.

Dolwin CVS

I registered Dolwin in SourceForge.net and placed its source code in CVS.

Now you may get Dolwin source code anytime, and see how WIP is going on.

Dolwin on SF.net: https://sourceforge.net/projects/dolwin
Dolwin CVS: http://cvs.sourceforge.net/viewcvs.py/dolwin/dolwin/
TortoiseCVS client: http://www.tortoisecvs.org/download.shtml
CVS Article: http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2310 ...

Erwan of DCFrance (http://www.dc-france.com/) posted this news that was emailed to him:

Hi,
I've built a NetBSD/dreamcast LiveCD without X11. It has only the base
base system without any packages.

You can find it at the following locations:
* http://netbsd.student.utwente.nl/rpaulo/
* http://fnop.net/dreamcast/
* http://phlox.ptblog.com/

Thanks to Wouter Schoot, João Santos and João Pinheiro for
providing the mirrors!

Very interesting ...

As we all know, the interweb is a wonderful place full of speculation, conjecture and extrapolation, but while some rumours are easily identifiable as spurious wibble-speak, other sniffets of info emanate from altogether more reliable sources - like the web log of a former game producer at EA's Canadian HQ, for example.

In his most recent blog, Brooke Burgess pieces together a speculative synopsis of the Revolution's features corralled from his dealings with various industry insiders, and it certainly makes for intriguing reading.

A cursory glance reveals no great surprises - there's mention of gyroscopic control, touchscreen integration and a proprietary PDA device as part of the controller. All good stuff, but nothing revolutionary as far as the gaming public would be concerned.

He's assured in his belief that the console will ship with wireless controllers, which again isn't a cosmos-shattering revelation, although he reveals that his "sources" suggest that the Revolution's wireless technology will go "well beyond mere controller connection and into the realm of some serious data transfer", such as Revolution to DS, Revolution to PC and Revolution to Revolution across wireless LANs (local area networks).

However, by far the most intriguing piece of 'unconfirmed but wouldn't it be great if it were true' gossip concerns the console's display technology, which he suggests could involve 3D image projection. Could this really be a possibility?

Well, considering Nintendo's past creation, namely the 32-bit Virtual Boy which could, in Nintendo's own words, "produce a 3D experience", it's certainly not a concept completely beyond the stratosphere of possibility.

Considering it alongside the other mooted features - 3D combined with motion sensitive controls - and the Revolution could truly be a revolutionary console.

Of course, before we get too carried away we must remind ourselves of the source of the information - an ex-EA employee's blog (and self-confessed Nintendo advocate) and that his suggestions of what the Revolution might be like are constructed entirely from presumption, guesswork and Chinese whisper, as he himself points out.

But still, he's obviously someone who knows a lot of people who know a lot of people, and it does make you wonder what delights Nintendo might have up their stereoscopic sleeves for the Revolution.

As always, only time, and E3, will tell. ...

A new image purporting to be the Xbox 360 console has been "leaked" onto the Internet, and is being widely reported as the final design for the hardware, which is due to be revealed in an MTV special in under three weeks time.

The new picture shows a small platinum/silver unit with a concave design, which appears to be designed to either sit flat or stand like a miniature tower unit - all of which ties in with the information from a British source who has seen the new console which we published two weeks ago.

Crucially, the design also fits perfectly with a zoomed-in teaser image of the console released on viral marketing "game" site OurColony, and the features on the case certainly seem to fit with other reports about the Xbox 360's functionality.

Interestingly, no controller ports are visible on the front of the system - the console supports wireless controllers out of the box, while USB connections for wired controllers are apparently concealed behind a small panel on the right hand side of the fascia.

Two slots for memory units appear on the front panel, while a "hood" supposedly concealing the location of the removable hard drive module is to be found on the left hand end of the console (the top of the unit if stood upright).

The size of the unit can be divined by looking at the DVD tray, which occupies almost half of the length of the console - suggesting a device far smaller and sleeker than the current Xbox console.

It's not clear where the "leak" came from, assuming of course that it is a leak at all and not simply a very clever mock-up; however, the original image which appeared online was in CMYK colour format, which is generally used in images destined for professional printing systems.

As might be expected, Microsoft's reaction to the image has been to issue their standard response: "Microsoft don't comment on rumours and speculation."

The firm plans to unveil the Xbox 360 (even the name of which remains unconfirmed, officially) in an MTV special to be broadcast in North America on May 12th, followed by international broadcasts on May 13th. ...

Gizmondo Europe has signed an agreement with Andromeda Entertainment and Just Distribution to distribute a total of 100,000 units across the UK over the next 12 months.

Andromeda supplies consoles and games to the UK mail order industry, and describes itself as the largest specialist supplier to this market. It will distribute 60,000 of the Gizmondo units.

"Andromeda is fulfilling supply following great interest in Gizmondo from the mail order side of the market," said CEO Robert Stein. "From our perspective the home shopping sector has really bought into Gizmondo."

The remaining 40,000 handhelds will be distributed by Just Distribution, which has been supplying independent retailers with games hardware and software since 2001.

"Gizmondo genuinely understands the critical importance of the independent retail channel," said Just Distribution director Andrew Blumson. "The multiple price points of the hardware, especially the Smart Add-enabled version at £129, are being viewed with particular interest."

Gizmondo is also working in partnership with DVC Sales to build product awareness amongst both independents and multiples. The contract sales firm already has deals with household brands such as Electronic Arts, Sony Ericsson, Vodafone and JVC.

"Much of the Gizmondo marketing activity thus far has been focused on the introduction of the brand and communicating the six core functions of the device to audiences in and around major UK cities," Gary MacManus, joint Managing Director of DVC Sales.

"Our initial role will be to continue that communication down to store level and build on the excitement already there, to generate consumer awareness, footfall in store, visibility, and sales for our retail partners."

UK independent retailers have welcomed news of the agreement, according to Gizmondo. "Just Distribution represents everything a quality distributor stands for, and here at Lakeside shopping centre, we welcome Gizmondo as a new and refreshing product line," said Gordon Peel, co-founder and director of That'z Entertainment.

Paul Kenwright, director of Virtual Games, added: "We will be fully committed in supporting Gizmondo from launch across all 8 stores."

Carl Freer, co-founder and chairman of Tiger Telematics - Gizmondo's parent company - said he welcomed the deal as part of a long term strategy. "This is a strategic partnership that we believe will work extremely well for our projected hardware and software range, especially at this stage in our company's growth," he said.

The Gizmondo launched in the UK on March 19 and is currently available from branches of John Lewis, Carphone Warehouse and GameStation. There is also a dedicated flagship store on London's Regent Street, and more are planned for 21 cities around the globe. The console launches in Europe on May 19. ...

Last week we brought you a gaggle of goodies about the New Legend of Zelda game heading to GameCube later this year. Guess what? We've got even more!
First up, we still don't know the full name of the new Zelda. Speaking to US mag EGM, producer Eiji Aonuma wants to keep it secret for the moment but has promised that it will seem very strange and will only make sense as you uncover more about the game.

Facts are similarly scarce about where this new Zelda game fits into the series' plotline. Again, Aounma-san wants to keep it secret for the moment, and even went as far as saying that it wasn't totally decided yet. And what about the New Zelda's Wind Waker or Majora's Mask - the magical element that adds a whole new gameplay style to the game? Again, it remains under Nintendo's covers. The latest speculation points to something that lets you communicate with animals, or possibly some kind of magical telescope that lets you see the world of the spirits.
But forget about all that. Here's some proper info! You'll play a mid-teens Link who lives in a village called Toaru on the outskirts of the Hyrule Kingdom. The people of Toaru are proud cattle farmers, hence the whole horse/cow theme. Expect plenty of cowboy-like references and experiences.

Link comes from a cattle-ranching family who sell their animals to the Kingdom of Hyrule, as well as other neighbouring towns and villages. Every year these villages meet for a conference, and one year Link is elected to go and represent Toaru. However, something happens as Link travels to the event, and the adventure begins...

Importantly, Nintendo wants to give players a huge expanse of land to play within, with wide-open terrain to traverse if you want to get anywhere. The horizon will stretch far into the distance. That means destinations will be far away from each other but huge forests, rivers and buildings can also be placed within the landscape. Think the Wind Waker's endless seas replaced by rolling meadows and prairie land.

The combat system will remain extremely similar to the Wind Waker, which Aonuma-san sees as almost perfect. Rather than change it a number of new moves have been added, including new jumping attacks, and the counter system has been sharpened up.

Riding on your horse (which will take up a large portion of the game) will be controlled with the analogue stick, with taps of the A button selecting how fast you ride. While on horseback you'll be able to swing your sword with button presses or fire arrows in first-person view using the shoulder buttons. For true Wild West-style action you'll even be able to kick people off their steeds and ride off into the sunset.

While these details have us salivating, we expect to be properly gushing after Nintendo unveils the New Legend of Zelda at E3 next month. We'll bring you all the latest from the show. ...

Kids these days, eh? Now it's all about stealing cars, dirtying your dinker with prostitutes (then murdering them for your chump change, natch) and shooting puppies in the face.
But back in the good old days of videogaming we pleasured ourselves by climbing on happy rainbows and collecting fruit for points. If only we could get back to all that is good and wholesome in games...

Thanks to newly-formed publisher Rising Star Games, we might get the chance. Reports suggest that, flushed with the old-school kudos of bringing Space Invaders and Bubble Bobble to the DS later this year (both with trendy 'Revolution' subtitle), Rising Star is also preparing to unleash the joys of Rainbow Islands on Nintendo's handheld.

If you don't recall the original it was a deliriously happy little platform game where you had to climb up rainbows to escape a flood. Hang around too long and your rainbows would dissipate and drop you into the rising tide, often causing some desperate scrambles to get to the top of the level. Lots of addictive fun and not a hooker in sight.
Reps from Rising Star were unable to confirm Rainbow Islands' existence, but since it's the spiritual successor to Bubble Bobble we think it's a pretty safe bet.

No details are available on the proposed DS version of Rainbow Islands but we guess you'll be able to draw your rainbows with the stylus. The dual-screened set-up will also suit the game's vertical play area perfectly.

Rising Star is also bringing the Harvest Moon series to PS2 for the very first time this October, alongside the Cube version of Oh Wonderful Life. Friends of Mineral Town on GBA will also be available this June.

But it's the old-school fun we're excited about. Just for a minute why not stop bludgeoning grannies with pickaxes and tell us what other classic eighties games you'd like to see brought to DS in the forums.

Rainbow Islands Revolution should be available later this year. ...

DCHelp has unveiled an entirely new site design. The new site is entirely PHP/SQL driven, and is almost entirely Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional. The only parts of the site that are not Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional are the sections of the knowledge bases. We will be working on converting those sections to Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional as well. Please report any bad links, bugs, or mistakes you find in the new site, as well as any feedback, in our new forums.

Be sure to check it out at http://dchelp.dcevolution.net/

Special thanks to WaCk0 and Mikey242 for helping out with the images and artwork. ...