Deck the halls with downloadable fun this week as Nintendo offers 11 new games to engage and entertain everyone in the household. Among this week's highlights is the Virtual Console™ debut of the original Super Smash Bros.™ game, bringing the total of downloadable games for the WiiWare™ and Virtual Console services to a fabulous 500 and featuring a host of beloved characters from across the Nintendo universe. New WiiWare offerings include the Earth-conscious action game Eco Shooter: Plant 530™ and a sequel to the quiz-lovers' favorite TV Show King. For Nintendo DSiWare™ fans, fresh arrivals include hand-held versions of the card-table classic UNO™ and the pioneering arcade game Dragon's Lair®. For rollicking multiplayer fun, mellow single-player diversions and everything in-between, Nintendo's got you covered for the holidays and beyond.

UNO
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Get ready to call out "UNO!" on your Nintendo DSi™ system. The world-famous card game has been faithfully reproduced for the Nintendo DSi system and features exciting new rules. With a multiplayer mode that can be accessed by local wireless play or with broadband Internet access and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, playing UNO has never been so fun and easy, so be the first to get rid of all your cards.

Dragon's Lair
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You play the heroic Dirk the Daring, a valiant knight on a quest to rescue the fair princess from the clutches of an evil dragon. Control the actions of the daring adventurer and find your way through the castle of a dark wizard who has enchanted it with treacherous monsters and obstacles. In the mysterious caverns below the castle, your odyssey continues against the awesome forces that oppose your journey to the dragon's lair. Dragon's Lair is a fully animated classic arcade game from legendary animator Don Bluth.

Hot and Cold: A 3D Hidden Object Adventure
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You're getting warm...warmer...hot! You've found Hot and Cold: A 3D Hidden Object Adventure, the new game that puts you on the job of finding people's missing stuff. A voice in your head tells you whether you're Hot or Cold when searching for things. Investigate cases all over town using your unique ability, and discover the secret behind the mysterious voice in your head. Throw objects out of your way, maneuver your way through a 3-D world, follow your Hot and Cold meter and more in this unparalleled hidden-object adventure.

High Stakes: Texas Hold'Em
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Simulated Gambling
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Hudson proudly presents the definitive Texas Hold'Em game for Nintendo DSiWare with High Stakes Texas Hold'Em. High Stakes allows players of any level to enjoy Texas Hold'Em game play. The popular No-Limit rule set used in many tournaments is included, so anyone can play with the big boys. With the added functionality of DS Wireless Communications, players can compete with others and test their skills. It's the core Texas Hold'Em experience on your Nintendo DSi system - anytime, anywhere.

myNotebook: Green™
Publisher: Nnooo
Players: 1
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: myNotebook allows you to take notes wherever you are. Just pop open your Nintendo DSi system and jot down your thoughts. Make a list and cross it off, or even play your favorite pen-and-paper games (games not included). You can even personalize your notebook by drawing on the cover and changing the paper type with 18 unlockable squared and lined paper styles. Use the pen or pencil to make your notes or doodles, then erase the bits you don't like. With five ink colors, you'll always be able to make your notes and doodles look stylish. ...

Deck the halls with downloadable fun this week as Nintendo offers 11 new games to engage and entertain everyone in the household. Among this week's highlights is the Virtual Console™ debut of the original Super Smash Bros.™ game, bringing the total of downloadable games for the WiiWare™ and Virtual Console services to a fabulous 500 and featuring a host of beloved characters from across the Nintendo universe. New WiiWare offerings include the Earth-conscious action game Eco Shooter: Plant 530™ and a sequel to the quiz-lovers' favorite TV Show King. For Nintendo DSiWare™ fans, fresh arrivals include hand-held versions of the card-table classic UNO™ and the pioneering arcade game Dragon's Lair®. For rollicking multiplayer fun, mellow single-player diversions and everything in-between, Nintendo's got you covered for the holidays and beyond.

Virtual Console

Super Smash Bros.
Original platform: Nintendo 64™
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Choose from an all-star cast of Nintendo characters in a frantic melee to prove who will be the ultimate brawler. Utilize the easy-to-learn but hard-to-master controls and battle it out in the single-player mode, earning point bonuses and unlocking hidden characters along the way. Enter VS Mode to take on up to three other players simultaneously. Inflict damage using each character's unique set of special moves, familiar items and power-ups, eventually winning by knocking your opponents off the screen in one of the interactive stages, each with a Nintendo theme. Need a moment to catch your breath? Polish your skills in Training Mode or destroy targets in Bonus Stages specific to each character. Are you ready to test your mettle against all comers, including the powerful Master Hand?

NINJA GAIDEN™
Original platform: Arcade
Publisher: TECMO
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Alcohol Reference, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Take control of a ninja, master of the Five Ninja Fighting Arts of assassination passed down since the chaotic times of feudal Japan, and enter "Jungle," a terrifying American city, to crush waves of foes who are part of an assassination syndicate. Use three buttons to execute exciting moves like the Flying Neck Throw, the Hang Kick and the Triple Blow Combination. Each stage is based around popular Western misconceptions about ninja and Japan, making the game world a fantastic mix of ninja and American pop culture. Game settings such as the starting number of player characters and the difficulty level can also be adjusted.

WiiWare

Eco Shooter: Plant 530
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Earth's empty cans have been brought to life by the Cannoids, an alien race determined to destroy the planet. Only Mack, a technician from the recycling facility Plant 530, stands in their way as Earth's last line of defense. Step into Mack's shoes in this guided first-person shooter as he takes on the invading aliens with only his trusty recycle cannon and a can-do attitude. Blast and vacuum (yes, vacuum) your way to victory, keeping in mind that every shot counts. Your ammo also doubles as your health, and every enemy you destroy leaves behind Can Energy that you can vacuum up and use as ammo. Uncomplicated controls (including optional use of the Wii Zapper™ accessory) give everyone the chance to save the planet, while advanced tactics like consecutive hit combos and the tough Challenge mode give even the best players a run for their money. Are you ready to step up and put a dent in their cans?

TV Show King 2
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Drug Reference
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: TV Show King is back for a second round. There are 8,000 questions sorted into 12 categories on the program, including general knowledge, sports, movies, music and more. And that's without counting the questions that you can create yourself. Here's everything you need to compete with your friends, or with players all over the world thanks to Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection.

Pallurikio™
Publisher: Playstos Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Jump and roll with Pallurikio, a fast-paced action platformer that's easy to pick up yet challenging to master. While playing a mysterious board game he found with his friends, Rusty is sucked into a dimensional vortex and finds himself in a mystical and wondrous world where he assumes the aspect of the round and bouncing Pallurikio. Using the Wii Remote™ controller, make Pallurikio jump and roll and help him find his way through more than 50 enticing levels while surviving all kinds of pitfalls and trickeries in Bakumbala Jungle, the far reaches of Palluro Prime and many other weird settings. Featuring ...

The second Operation Flashpoint®: Dragon Rising™ downloadable content – the ‘Overwatch’ pack – will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® today and will follow shortly for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC, Codemasters® has announced. The ‘Overwatch’ DLC delivers two game-changing multiplayer modes and new Fire Team Engagement (FTE) missions.

Showcasing the new content and modes featuring in the DLC, a new ‘Overwatch’ gameplay video is now available from www.flashpointgame.com. Players are shown engaged in electrifying combat, deploying a range of military assets from short and long range weaponry to armour and helicopters in tense battles for superiority in the new game modes and FTEs.

The ‘Overwatch’ DLC extends the unique Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising experience in solo, co-operative and adversarial play. In new multiplayer mode Blindside the PLA must complete objectives in the shortest time possible while the USMC defends in tense, tactical engagements. An additional new mode, Supremacy, tasks opposing forces to occupy strategically vital positions featuring force multipliers like gun emplacements and air strikes.

These new multiplayer modes are complimented by two exhilarating new FTEs. In Friendly Skies, PLA anti-aircraft artillery prevents US airborne reinforcements inserting into the combat zone. Players must remove that threat and then defend the position from a PLA counter attack. In Hostile Takeover, intel reveals enemy movement in the village of Armudan, a perfect base for launching attacks deep into enemy territory. Gamers must flush out the PLA, establish a perimeter and hold their ground against a new enemy assault.

Head to www.flashpointgame.com for the new video and further information on the ‘Overwatch’ pack. The ‘Overwatch’ pack will be available from Xbox Live Marketplace (400 Microsoft Points) today and will be available on the PlayStation Network (£3.19 / $4.99 / €3.99) and PC (free to download) soon. ...

Konami will today release free content and an update for its PES 2010 title for PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360 and PC-DVD.

3 new balls and 10 new boots are offered as additional free DLC.

On the other side, the update makes it even easier to use the game’s comprehensive formation settings, and also adds icons to show the connectivity status of online players. All settings can now be saved and Stocked Data will be loaded automatically, speeding up play immediately. Likewise, the new connectivity icons will show the user as a Grey icon, with Green, Yellow and Red icons detailing the quality of the opponent’s connection, with red being the worse.

The update also improves match making between users of the PC-DVD version of the game with different processors. ...

Xbox
(Full price) Week ending 19 May 2007
POS. TITLE PUBLISHER LAST
WEEK WEEKS
ON CHART
1 - SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS VIVENDI GAMES 1 32
2 LEGO STAR WARS II: THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY LUCASARTS 3 33
3 THE LEGEND OF SPYRO: A NEW BEGINNING VIVENDI GAMES 4 4
4 new NBA LIVE 07 ELECTRONIC ARTS - 1
5 new XIAOLIN SHOWDOWN KONAMI - 1 ...

Remember that one time in band camp when you talked about doing cool things with your Xbox Avatars? I hope that cool thing involved taking a snowball and shoving it right in the face of other Xbox Avatars. The creative minds at Hotwave Games presents an insanely awesome thing to do with Xbox Avatars. Snowball fight!!! I present to you...for your Winter eyes only...Avatar Wave: Snowball Fight.

Why dream of a white Christmas when you can download and create your own with Avatar Wave: Snowball Fight!? It's the next best thing to actually making your own snowball and hitting little Billy in the face with it. The best part is that with Avatar Wave: Snowball Fight the screaming mom heading straight towards you for breaking her little boy's nose is out of the equation. Don't break a nose, break an Avatar!

Avatar Wave: Snowball Fight puts your Avatar against others in a snowball fight for the ages. Make sure your Avatar is dressed for the occasion! It's 1-4 players so you and some friends can finally go at it in a pile of snow. Come on I know you've always wanted to. Take a look at the game in action here.

You can toss snowballs in Arcade and Survival mode as well as play online on Xbox LIVE against other snowball fighters across the country. It's the perfect game for the holiday season and the only one that won't have Billy's mom chasing after you. You can safely throw as many snowballs as you can.

"Snow is the most dominant in the feeling of Winter and thus we decided to make a snowball fighting game," said Lead Programmer, Percy. "In the development process, we always keep the gameplay simple so that a wide range of players can have fun with it. Players can find some tactics in the game and they can defeat enemies easily by mastering those skills!"

Give your audience the gift of news about this game. It's available now on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 240 Microsoft Points. From the Xbox dashboard, just head to Games Marketplace > Indie Games. You can queue it up for download here on Xbox.com: http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/ga...-d802585503c1/ ...

How can it not be? A new Metal Gear Solid, a new Kingdom Hearts, a new Valkyria Chronicles, maybe even that new Resident Evil with be released, all tailor made for the PlayStation Portable are due next year.

Granted, many of the highlights of 2010 are either remakes, spin-offs or tinier versions of their higher-definition siblings bound for the PlayStation 3, but maybe you'd prefer to play them on the go to begin with. Although 2009 wasn't too shabby—Gran Turismo, LittleBigPlanet, Half-Minute Hero, Resistance: Retribution, etc.—we're going to go out on a limb and say that next year could be much stronger in the games department—but we'll not make any bets until Capcom releases a proper Resident Evil Portable screen shot.

Let's have a look see. And, of course, please suggest your own personal PSP highlights from the coming year

http://kotaku.com/5430112/2010-the-y...games/gallery/ ...

Traveller's Tales director Jon Burton has said he is more excited about the Sony motion controller than Microsoft's Project Natal, although he admits the latter's technology is "amazing".

"I was actually more impressed with Sony's motion capture solution than Microsoft's Natal," Burton told Develop.

"[Natal is] exceedingly clever, but the lag on the input and lack of physical buttons is really going to restrict the kind of games that can be done with it."

Meanwhile, Burton expects the Sony controller to be "cheap" and "accurate", and of course it has buttons, which are all the rage.

But the LEGO Everything veteran also admitted that the Natal software was "nothing short of amazing" given its ability to "get anything resembling mo-cap, live in real time, from effectively a single camera".

The Natal sensor bar and camera combination is at the core of Microsoft's vision for controller-free gaming, which many expect it to launch for Xbox 360 in 2010.

Sony, meanwhile, has said to expect its as-yet unnamed motion controller next spring. The device uses the PlayStation Eye camera and handheld wands to track movement with unerring precision.

Check out Digital Foundry's extensive hands-on and analysis of Project Natal to see whether Burton's fears of lag are justified.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tt...-by-sony-wands ...

Sony has said that the SOCOM: Confrontation expansion pack Cold Front will be released in Europe on 7th January, although pricing is still to be confirmed.

Cold Front came out in the US last week and consists of a new area in Eastern Europe populated by five new maps, new weapons, new Trophies, a new specialisation system, and more importantly SNOW! And SNOW EFFECTS! SNOW GEAR!

There are more details on the official PlayStation blog, where you can also read a comments thread full of people complaining about discrimination and things like that. SNOW!

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/so...-europe-in-jan ...