The first installment in a series of developer diary videos for X-Men Origins: Wolverine dropped today, bringing with it a number of heady promises from the folks behind the sextuple-clawed slaughterfest. Included in these promises are reminders of the title's feral protagonist's badassedness (the frequent use of this adjective might make the video NSFW, if you work at like, a monastery or something), and a solemn vow that Wolverine will be "the movie game that finally does not suck." The dev team behind Street Fighter: The Movie: The Game begs to differ.

If developer boasting isn't your cup of tea, the video also provides some nice gameplay footage from the title. However, this footage could leave you worried about Logan's mental health -- we're fairly sure wielding knuckle cutlery whilst traversing a rope bridge isn't the safest way to get around.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/x-...does-not-suck/ ...

According to research conducted by Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, the Japanese gaming industry's year-to-year sales dropped in 2008. Total industry revenue reached ¥552.42 billion last year -- an 18 percent decrease from ¥676.95 billion in sales during 2007. Hardware sales dropped 27 percent from the previous year to ¥231.52 billion, while software sales only fell 11 percent, ending up at ¥320.91 billion.

Flamewar-fueling financial figures were also revealed in Enterbrain's study -- the DS reigned supreme in 2008, with 3,983,205 units sold. In addition, Pokémon Platinum was the year's highest grossing game, with 2,372,336 copies purchased. Second place went to the PSP with 3,230,563 units sold. Trailing behind, the Wii moved 2,257,575 consoles, the PS3 sold 999,903 units, and the Xbox 360 ended with a total of 398,633 consoles sold -- effectively doubling Microsoft's Japanese hardware sales figures from 2007.

What's with the slowdown, Japan? Did you guys collectively take up knitting or something? Don't get us wrong, knitting is awesome, but letting it interfere with your ludological purchasing habits is just plain irresponsible.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/ja...eased-in-2008/ ...

On the heels of high February sales numbers, Reuters is reporting that the game industry is actually thriving during the economic recession (so long as you don't work for the game industry, anyway). The article notes that the games market has expanded, largely thanks to the Nintendo Wii, which has brought an influx of female gamers. Reuters states -- as have others -- that many consumers are turning to home entertainment in the current economic environment. Analysts expect the industry to continue growing, with IDC's Billy Pidgeon expecting double digit growth in 2009, though he adds that gamers "will consider purchases more carefully" given the recession.

Analysts expect the recession to have other effects on the game industry as well. Interpret's Michael Cai expects used games and budget titles to take up a more significant share of sales this year. Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, unsurprisingly, expects hardware manufacturers to cut the price of their consoles. We're assuming he wasn't referring to the PS2.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/an...gamers-choosi/ ...

Those magic Gelflings known as "sources" have whispered into the ear of The Cut Scene that Brütal Legend is coming to the Wii -- but it won't be developed by Tim Schafer's Double Fine studio. Hey, funny thing, that's what we wildly (not really) speculated yesterday, but we didn't have Gelfings to back us up ... so sad.

The Cut Scene goes on to explain why Brütal Legend on Wii makes strategic sense for EA. Short version: EA could use the cash and having its newest franchise on the top-selling console is probably a good idea.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/ru...veloped-by-do/ ...

A mandatory update has just hit the Xbox 360. According to Microsoft's Larry Hryb, "This update addresses interruption issues that some Xbox LIVE users may have experienced when playing a limited number of Xbox 360 games."

Meaning? "There are no other changes or enhancements in this update…in other words no new features."

http://kotaku.com/5195162/xbox-360-u...o-new-features ...

With a price drop to $99, the Playstation 2 is being repositioned as a family friendly video game console for the casual gamer.

Something that could put the Playstation 2 directly in the Nintendo Wii's big blue ocean, says John Koller, SCEA's director of hardware marketing.

"I think you can look at the PS2 as the competitor to the Wii," he said. "If you look at the technology and types of games launching for the Playstation 2, it lines up much closer to the Wii than the Wii does to next generation consoles And the Playstation 2 has a significant advantage in terms of broader consumer appeal."

Koller went on to congratulate Nintendo on what he called a "tremendous success story", but added that he thinks that there is an opportunity for the Playstation 2 to "steal some share base with this price and game line up."

While the Playstation 2 already has a more than 1,900 game library, both third-party party developers and Sony Computer Entertainment itself plan to continue to make games for the console, Koller said.

"Seventy to 80 titles will be launching this year and about the same next year," he said. "We are going to support it extensively."

But that doesn't mean that triple-A Playstation 3 titles, like God of War III, would be getting the PS2 treatment. Instead Sony will be focusing on social gaming and sports titles for the console with games like Sing Star, Buzz and MLB.

Koller added that there are "strong game franchises" coming to the Playstation 2 in the latter half of the year which will excite core gamers.

Because the Playstation 2 is the fourth console in a crowded market, Koller said that SCEA has been talking to national retailers to ensure that the console gets shelf space.

"This price drop helps in keeping or expanding shelf space," he said. "There is always pressure for shelf space."

And Sony doesn't think that this price drop will dig into potential Playstation 3 sales.

"We don't at all," he said. "These are different consumers. The Playstation 3 appeals much more to early tech adopters than the PS2 and the PSP attaches to mobile consumers."

Though, it's interesting to note that almost 80 percent of Playstation 3 owners own or owned a PS2, according to Koller.

"Do we think that someone who purchases a PS2 on April 1 is going to buy a Playstation 3 on April 2?" he said. "Probably not, but they eventually will."

http://kotaku.com/5192861/scea-ps2-p...help-ps3-sales ...

With a price drop to $99, the Playstation 2 is being repositioned as a family friendly video game console for the casual gamer.

Something that could put the Playstation 2 directly in the Nintendo Wii's big blue ocean, says John Koller, SCEA's director of hardware marketing.

"I think you can look at the PS2 as the competitor to the Wii," he said. "If you look at the technology and types of games launching for the Playstation 2, it lines up much closer to the Wii than the Wii does to next generation consoles And the Playstation 2 has a significant advantage in terms of broader consumer appeal."

Koller went on to congratulate Nintendo on what he called a "tremendous success story", but added that he thinks that there is an opportunity for the Playstation 2 to "steal some share base with this price and game line up."

While the Playstation 2 already has a more than 1,900 game library, both third-party party developers and Sony Computer Entertainment itself plan to continue to make games for the console, Koller said.

"Seventy to 80 titles will be launching this year and about the same next year," he said. "We are going to support it extensively."

But that doesn't mean that triple-A Playstation 3 titles, like God of War III, would be getting the PS2 treatment. Instead Sony will be focusing on social gaming and sports titles for the console with games like Sing Star, Buzz and MLB.

Koller added that there are "strong game franchises" coming to the Playstation 2 in the latter half of the year which will excite core gamers.

Because the Playstation 2 is the fourth console in a crowded market, Koller said that SCEA has been talking to national retailers to ensure that the console gets shelf space.

"This price drop helps in keeping or expanding shelf space," he said. "There is always pressure for shelf space."

And Sony doesn't think that this price drop will dig into potential Playstation 3 sales.

"We don't at all," he said. "These are different consumers. The Playstation 3 appeals much more to early tech adopters than the PS2 and the PSP attaches to mobile consumers."

Though, it's interesting to note that almost 80 percent of Playstation 3 owners own or owned a PS2, according to Koller.

"Do we think that someone who purchases a PS2 on April 1 is going to buy a Playstation 3 on April 2?" he said. "Probably not, but they eventually will."

http://kotaku.com/5192861/scea-ps2-p...help-ps3-sales ...

[How have downloadable PS1 titles fared in Sony's PS3 PlayStation Store? Gamasutra's Matt Matthews reached out to Sony and came away with an exclusive top ten of titles to date, with some surprising results.]

Among the software that Sony offers on the U.S. PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 are about 30 titles which originally appeared on Sony's first PlayStation console.

These games are generally playable on both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable and range in price from $6 to $10.

All of PS1 titles on the PlayStation Store to date have been published by Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA).

Even games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, originally published by Konami, were published on the Store by SCEA.

With Capcom expressing interest in bringing more of its PS1 catalog to the PlayStation Store, I thought it would be helpful to see which classic games have sold well so far.

Sony graciously provided me with the top selling PS1 games since the PlayStation Store launched in 2006, as follows:



Having seen this list, it becomes a bit more clear why Capcom is eager to get more of its games on the Store. Even though its Street Fighter Alpha has only been available for only seven months, it is already the best-selling PS1 game on the service.

The second and third Crash Bandicoot games are the only other games from 2008 which made the top 10, but each has has been available for nearly twice as long as SFA.

Another popular third-party title, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, took the #2 spot in the top 10. The lesser-known Castlevania Chronicles, originally by Konami but published on the PlayStation Store by SCEA in December 2008, did not make this top 10.

Fans have long hoped that Konami would release the seminal Metal Gear Solid as a download on the store, but Konami has been content to release it only in its home territory of Japan.

All other titles in the top 10 are games originally published by Sony.

Some notable third-party titles available on the PlayStation Store that didn't make it into the top 10 are Tekken 2 (originally published by Namco) and Rayman (originally published by UbiSoft).

So far in 2009, no PS1 games have been released on the PlayStation Store, although there have been assurances from Sony that more are coming.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=22842 ...

[How have downloadable PS1 titles fared in Sony's PS3 PlayStation Store? Gamasutra's Matt Matthews reached out to Sony and came away with an exclusive top ten of titles to date, with some surprising results.]

Among the software that Sony offers on the U.S. PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 are about 30 titles which originally appeared on Sony's first PlayStation console.

These games are generally playable on both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable and range in price from $6 to $10.

All of PS1 titles on the PlayStation Store to date have been published by Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA).

Even games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, originally published by Konami, were published on the Store by SCEA.

With Capcom expressing interest in bringing more of its PS1 catalog to the PlayStation Store, I thought it would be helpful to see which classic games have sold well so far.

Sony graciously provided me with the top selling PS1 games since the PlayStation Store launched in 2006, as follows:



Having seen this list, it becomes a bit more clear why Capcom is eager to get more of its games on the Store. Even though its Street Fighter Alpha has only been available for only seven months, it is already the best-selling PS1 game on the service.

The second and third Crash Bandicoot games are the only other games from 2008 which made the top 10, but each has has been available for nearly twice as long as SFA.

Another popular third-party title, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, took the #2 spot in the top 10. The lesser-known Castlevania Chronicles, originally by Konami but published on the PlayStation Store by SCEA in December 2008, did not make this top 10.

Fans have long hoped that Konami would release the seminal Metal Gear Solid as a download on the store, but Konami has been content to release it only in its home territory of Japan.

All other titles in the top 10 are games originally published by Sony.

Some notable third-party titles available on the PlayStation Store that didn't make it into the top 10 are Tekken 2 (originally published by Namco) and Rayman (originally published by UbiSoft).

So far in 2009, no PS1 games have been released on the PlayStation Store, although there have been assurances from Sony that more are coming.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=22842 ...