Platinum Games' debut title MadWorld was released first in Western markets, so we were a bit concerned when word recently broke about a Fall 2009 Japanese release for the developer's second title, Bayonetta. All concerns were cleared today when SEGA confirmed that the PS3/Xbox 360 multiplatform action title will see a simultaneous worldwide release. That's Fall 2009, everywhere.

The announcement came today at a press event in Tokyo. SEGA showed off its upcoming lineup. Most of the games were Japan-centric, but the three main titles, Bayonetta, End of Eternity, and Puyo Puyo 7, are all probably worldwide titles.

Bayonetta saw a live playable demonstration by producer Yusuke Hashimoto, who discussed the game's "Climax Action" theme, which promises to let players experience the climax of a movie in every single scene. While we don't have footage of the demo session, we were able to get some super high-res screens of the game. See our Bayonetta media page for those.

The End of Eternity presentation was limited to just a trailer, which you can see at the EoE official site (it's under the "Movie" section after the lengthy and totally unskippable flash opening). SEGA's Hiroyuki Miyazaki and tri-Ace's Yoshiharu Gotanda spoke at the event, with Gotanda describing the title as "the first step in destroying the classic RPG." For first high-res screens of this, see our gallery.

Finally, Puyo Puyo. We've already shared all the details on the DS version of Puyo Puyo 7 (Wii and PSP versions are also on the way). The big news at the press conference was that SEGA will be using actress Erika Toda in commercials for the game.

http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/972/972554p1.html ...

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News via nintendomax

Copper adds another update to its emulator arcade games Pac Man and 60 other similar games, "DS Pack.

Quote:
V1.3.1: 13/04/2009
* Added a vertical scrolling Jr Pacman
* Fixed bug (sound, switches, input / output Initialized VRAM)

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Pickle has released a new version of Wolf3d for the GP2X, heres whats new:


http://archive.gp2x.de/cgi-bin/cfile...,0,0,0,20,2479 ...

Brian has released ONScripter-WII v04.2009a

ONScripter is an opensource cross-platform clone of the NScripter Visual Novel engine. The original ONScripter was written by Opagee the fork that supports the English language is maintained by Haeleth

v04.2009a

Merged latest upstream changes
Fixed specifying multiple archive paths
Added ogg_only option to xml file

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At this year's Game Developers Conference a talk called Independent Game Sales revealed that Nintendo has a minimum download threshold for WiiWare games that must be met before the developer is paid. The speaker, Gamasutra publisher and Independent Game Festival chairman Simon Carless, said this number is somewhere in the mid-quadruple digits for America and low quadruples for other territories. Unless a game passes over this number of downloads, the developer doesn't get paid at all.

Carless estimated that multiple independent WiiWare games will not pass the threshold and not return any of the developer's investment. He also guessed that this threshold is in place to deter developers from tossing loads of shovelware onto the service.

There have been two primary barriers for little-known games on WiiWare. Until recently, storage has been an issue on the Wii. This is now fixed as of last month, but another hurdle remains: WiiWare games don't offer any sort of trial, so gamers can't check them out first to see if they like them as they can on Xbox Live Arcade.

As of this writing, Nintendo could not be reached for comment. The company has not released any official information about the sales of WiiWare games. Carless has heard that Nintendo might be changing this minimum threshold policy so that developers can eventually cash a paycheck from WiiWare.

http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/972/972642p1.html ...

While gamers in America are just now getting their first sampling of Utsusu Made in Wario (aka Wario Ware Snapped), Japan is getting set for the next entry in the series. Actually, make that "entries," plural. Made in Ore and Asobu Made in Ore are gearing up for their respective April 29 releases on the DS and Wii. Today Nintendo opened up official sites for the two highly connected games, offering new details and first video footage.

First the DS title, Made in Ore. This is the main game in the duo. In Made in Ore ("Ore" is Japanese for "Me," making this translate to "Made in Me"), you make your very own Wario Ware-style mini-game, creating backgrounds, characters, and even music themes. Separately from the mini games, you can also make short musical records and four frame black and white comics. Your works can be traded with other DS players, who can then proceed to make their own edits. The cartridge can hold up to 90 original creations.

The WiiWare title, Asobu Made in Ore, is basically a viewing/playing app for Wario Ware mini games ("Asobu" is Japanese for "Play"). Using this, you can send your Made in Ore creations from the DS to the Wii to view or play on the big screen. You can also use the WiiWare title as a storage space, as it can store a lot more content -- up to 72 of each of the mini-games, records and manga.

Both the WiiWare and DS titles ship with pre-installed samples of the three types of content. For the DS, you get at least 90 of each. For the WiiWare version, you get 72 games, 18 comics and 18 records. The pre-installed content is unique across the two platforms and can be traded.

The two titles will also share download content. Nintendo will be offering downloadable mini-games at a rate of two per week. These can be accessed through either version. Nintendo supposedly plans on offering mini games from famous game designers, making this something you'll want to keep an eye on.

The DS version is the more expensive of the two titles, as it's a full retail release costing 4,800 yen. The WiiWare version is 800 WiiPoints.

This pricing and release information is just for Japan, of course. We'll let you know once Nintendo finalizes release information for other territories.

http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/972/972588p1.html ...

While gamers in America are just now getting their first sampling of Utsusu Made in Wario (aka Wario Ware Snapped), Japan is getting set for the next entry in the series. Actually, make that "entries," plural. Made in Ore and Asobu Made in Ore are gearing up for their respective April 29 releases on the DS and Wii. Today Nintendo opened up official sites for the two highly connected games, offering new details and first video footage.

First the DS title, Made in Ore. This is the main game in the duo. In Made in Ore ("Ore" is Japanese for "Me," making this translate to "Made in Me"), you make your very own Wario Ware-style mini-game, creating backgrounds, characters, and even music themes. Separately from the mini games, you can also make short musical records and four frame black and white comics. Your works can be traded with other DS players, who can then proceed to make their own edits. The cartridge can hold up to 90 original creations.

The WiiWare title, Asobu Made in Ore, is basically a viewing/playing app for Wario Ware mini games ("Asobu" is Japanese for "Play"). Using this, you can send your Made in Ore creations from the DS to the Wii to view or play on the big screen. You can also use the WiiWare title as a storage space, as it can store a lot more content -- up to 72 of each of the mini-games, records and manga.

Both the WiiWare and DS titles ship with pre-installed samples of the three types of content. For the DS, you get at least 90 of each. For the WiiWare version, you get 72 games, 18 comics and 18 records. The pre-installed content is unique across the two platforms and can be traded.

The two titles will also share download content. Nintendo will be offering downloadable mini-games at a rate of two per week. These can be accessed through either version. Nintendo supposedly plans on offering mini games from famous game designers, making this something you'll want to keep an eye on.

The DS version is the more expensive of the two titles, as it's a full retail release costing 4,800 yen. The WiiWare version is 800 WiiPoints.

This pricing and release information is just for Japan, of course. We'll let you know once Nintendo finalizes release information for other territories.

http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/972/972588p1.html ...

Nintendo is setting the stage for a blockbuster summer with the announcement of two hotly anticipated product releases. The new Wii MotionPlus™ accessory will hit U.S. retailers on June 8, taking the motion-sensing controls of the popular Wii™ system to new levels of precision and performance. What's more, these control enhancements will be on vibrant display when the Wii Sports Resort™ game launches on July 26, offering a beach-themed follow-up to the groundbreaking Wii Sports™ game. Wii Sports comes packed with the Wii console. It grew into a worldwide phenomenon and continues to attract millions of new players to the world of video games. Each Wii Sports Resort game comes packed with a single Wii MotionPlus accessory.

When used with specially designed games, Wii MotionPlus tracks players' movements in finer detail and with greater accuracy than ever before, building upon the innovative wireless function of the motion-sensing Wii Remote™ controller. Even the slightest twist of the wrist or turn of the body is replicated exactly on the TV screen, allowing users to become even more immersed in Wii game play. Designed for easy attachment to the Wii Remote controller, the Wii MotionPlus accessory will be offered at an MSRP of $19.99.

Wii Sports Resort takes the inclusive, fun and intuitive controls of the original Wii Sports to the next level, introducing a whole new set of entertaining and physically immersive activities. With the deep control enhancements of Wii MotionPlus, veteran Wii users and newcomers alike can enjoy unprecedented gaming precision as they cruise on a water scooter, duel with swords, throw a Frisbee® and much more. Wii Sports Resort and Wii MotionPlus will be offered together at an MSRP of $49.99.

"Wii MotionPlus represents a new evolution in video game control. The variety of fun games in Wii Sports Resort show off its incredible precision," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Developers around the world are busy working on new ways to incorporate Wii MotionPlus controls into inventive experiences for consumers."

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com. For more information about Nintendo, visit www.Nintendo.com. ...