Nintendo's strategy of re-releasing classic GameCube games that have been Wii waggle-readied looks to be working, as least in the case of Mario Power Tennis. The "Play on Wii" version is still Japan's favorite game.

That includes the original Wii role-playing game Fragile: Sayonara Tsuki no Haikyo from Namco Bandai, one of two new debuts on this week's top ten. Why bother with new IP, when you can simply repackage? We're sure that folks like Namco Bandai wouldn't mind dusting off a few old GameCubes duds for a quick cash-in.

Other new entries include the Japanese release of Left 4 Dead, which landed at the 12th spot, and the latest Haruhi schlock, Suzumiya Haruhi no Gekidou. *Yawn* Wake me up when Resident Evil 5 madness hits

http://kotaku.com/5142072/new-wii-ga...games-in-japan ...

Last fall, controversy about Fisher-Price's Little Mommy Cuddle 'n Coo doll rocked the local news circuit, when the doll was discovered to utter some kind of gibberish that sounded kind of like "Islam is the Light" if you were listening hard enough for things to be outraged about.

The odd sound sample has been found once again by a concerned parent, this time in Crave's Nintendo DS game Baby Pals, previously known only for being kind of creepy-looking. In a fairly hilarious coincidence, Rachel Jones of Indiana found the offending utterance first in the doll, then later in a copy of Baby Pals she had purchased for her daughter. Baby Pals came out in October 2007, a year before the row about the doll.

"Not just my daughters' toys, but we have a son too," Jones told Terre Haute's WTHI News 10. "Now I feel like I need to listen to all of his little toys to make sure they're not saying it." Check out the news footage after the break, and watch as the virtual baby intones the phrase in question over and over again while being bathed. Of course, the ability of fake babies to exert absolute influence on real children through nonsensical endorsements of religion is well-known. Everybody knows that.

If you listen to what is supposedly the original MP3 (provided by Fisher-Price, link goes straight to .mp3), it sounds much more like nonsense and less like some random attempt at indoctrination. We've contacted Crave to try to find out where it got the sample and hopefully solve this quirky mystery.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/is...-ds-baby-pals/ ...

In all its infinite wisdom, MCV is predicting that the UK video game market will overtake the Japanese market sometime in 2009. Oh really? As far as having proof to back up its prediction, MCV supplies hard facts and some pro-UK mathematical sales figures.

According to its research, the Japanese market is worth £520,000, but has been steadily declining by about 15% year-on-year. Not good. By comparison, the UK market has been flourishing, growing by 18.5% year-on-year and is expected to reach a 2009 market value of £4.77 billion. Japan's 2009 market is on target to reach a "meh"-inducing £3.86 billion. Knowing this, if Japan were to take on the UK in a no-holds-barred, industry smackdown event of global proportions, we'd totally pay-per-view it.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/uk...-japans-in-09/ ...

It's not exactly the same as keeping pornography behind that threadbare red curtain in the back of the video store, but it's close. GamePolitics reports that New York assemblyman Brian Kolb (R) has submitted a new bill -- which looks awfully similar to a bill he submitted in 2007 -- that would place some serious restrictions on games "advocating or glamorizing" a whole rainbow of illicit activities including "commission of a violent crime, suicide, sodomy, rape, incest, bestiality, [and] sado-masochism," among other things.

The law would require New York retailers to apply warning labels to any game that contained such activities and, furthermore, all such games would need to be kept in a "sealed and locked container" inaccessible to customers -- something most retailers already do for all games. Retailers who do not comply -- or "non-custodial" adults who purchase regulated games for minors -- would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000.

Of course, the ESRB already labels the content of every game sold in North America. That's not good enough for the New York legislature -- which should be apparent by now -- as the bill states that ESRB labels are "insufficient warnings" for concerned parents and that minors are purchasing violent games "with little or no resistance from retailers". This is in spite of the fact that it's actually harder for kids to obtain M-rated games these days. Spending tax dollars on redundancy? Inconceivable!

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ne...-lock-and-key/ ...

EA has revealed the known -- but never officially announced -- sequel to Boom Blox for Wii. According to the press release, EA's Boom Blox Bash Party will be out this spring, featuring 400 new levels and a greater emphasis on multiplayer -- as evidenced by the "Party" in the title. (As well as the "Bash" -- which is a kind of party, we believe.)

"Boom Blox Bash Party is a wild social gaming experience," said Steven Spielberg, who is involved in the new game in whatever nebulous capacity in which he was involved in the first title. "We know families and friends really enjoyed playing the original Boom Blox together, so we designed more explosive multiplayer experiences with Boom Blox Bash Party."

Even more exciting, BBBP now has online integration for its level editor, allowing players to share their destructible Mario sprites with the community at large. EA will offer its own downloadable levels as well.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ea...y-this-spring/ ...

Cel-shaded scurrying news now, with Ubisoft announcing a downloadable extension to its latest Prince of Persia game ... Prince of Persia. Set directly after the events of the main narrative, the "Epilogue" DLC expands the acrobatic protagonist's playground, as well as his magical companion's repertoire of powers. Epilogue's associate producer, Jamal Rguigui, tells IGN that players can expect the new Underground Palace area "to keep you on the edge of your seat." And even if you slide right off, we're sure Elika will be there to grab you.


While careful not to spoil the game's conclusion, Rguigui notes that Epilogue will further develop the relationship between the main characters and task them with defeating a new enemy, The Shapeshifter. "The Shapeshifter is an enemy that takes the form of two of Ahriman's most fearsome Lieutenants, the Warrior and the Hunter," he says. "Though their physical form is familiar to our heroes and the player, it will requires a particular strategy to defeat the Shapeshifter, rewarding the player that takes advantage of the new sprint feature exclusive to the Epilogue."

In addition to the royal rogue's sprinting offensive, the DLC gives Elika the "Energize" power, which allows her to temporarily restore a piece of destroyed environment. Tough-guy gamers will also be pleased to note that said environment will offer more challenging platforming sequences and additional traps to be almost-killed by. "We wanted to build a challenge and experience even greater with all the tools at our disposal, and let me say that there are a lot: Elika's power, traps, combat system, etc."

Look for all of those etc. on PSN and Xbox Live on February 26th. We'll update as soon Ubisoft settles on a price.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/pr...ps3-on-feb-26/ ...

Cel-shaded scurrying news now, with Ubisoft announcing a downloadable extension to its latest Prince of Persia game ... Prince of Persia. Set directly after the events of the main narrative, the "Epilogue" DLC expands the acrobatic protagonist's playground, as well as his magical companion's repertoire of powers. Epilogue's associate producer, Jamal Rguigui, tells IGN that players can expect the new Underground Palace area "to keep you on the edge of your seat." And even if you slide right off, we're sure Elika will be there to grab you.


While careful not to spoil the game's conclusion, Rguigui notes that Epilogue will further develop the relationship between the main characters and task them with defeating a new enemy, The Shapeshifter. "The Shapeshifter is an enemy that takes the form of two of Ahriman's most fearsome Lieutenants, the Warrior and the Hunter," he says. "Though their physical form is familiar to our heroes and the player, it will requires a particular strategy to defeat the Shapeshifter, rewarding the player that takes advantage of the new sprint feature exclusive to the Epilogue."

In addition to the royal rogue's sprinting offensive, the DLC gives Elika the "Energize" power, which allows her to temporarily restore a piece of destroyed environment. Tough-guy gamers will also be pleased to note that said environment will offer more challenging platforming sequences and additional traps to be almost-killed by. "We wanted to build a challenge and experience even greater with all the tools at our disposal, and let me say that there are a lot: Elika's power, traps, combat system, etc."

Look for all of those etc. on PSN and Xbox Live on February 26th. We'll update as soon Ubisoft settles on a price.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/pr...ps3-on-feb-26/ ...

Cel-shaded scurrying news now, with Ubisoft announcing a downloadable extension to its latest Prince of Persia game ... Prince of Persia. Set directly after the events of the main narrative, the "Epilogue" DLC expands the acrobatic protagonist's playground, as well as his magical companion's repertoire of powers. Epilogue's associate producer, Jamal Rguigui, tells IGN that players can expect the new Underground Palace area "to keep you on the edge of your seat." And even if you slide right off, we're sure Elika will be there to grab you.


While careful not to spoil the game's conclusion, Rguigui notes that Epilogue will further develop the relationship between the main characters and task them with defeating a new enemy, The Shapeshifter. "The Shapeshifter is an enemy that takes the form of two of Ahriman's most fearsome Lieutenants, the Warrior and the Hunter," he says. "Though their physical form is familiar to our heroes and the player, it will requires a particular strategy to defeat the Shapeshifter, rewarding the player that takes advantage of the new sprint feature exclusive to the Epilogue."

In addition to the royal rogue's sprinting offensive, the DLC gives Elika the "Energize" power, which allows her to temporarily restore a piece of destroyed environment. Tough-guy gamers will also be pleased to note that said environment will offer more challenging platforming sequences and additional traps to be almost-killed by. "We wanted to build a challenge and experience even greater with all the tools at our disposal, and let me say that there are a lot: Elika's power, traps, combat system, etc."

Look for all of those etc. on PSN and Xbox Live on February 26th. We'll update as soon Ubisoft settles on a price.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/pr...ps3-on-feb-26/ ...

Before enslaving the planet and putting all of us to work in the mines, toiling away for mushrooms and fire flowers until we're nothing but skin, bones and broken dreams, Nintendo has seen fit to reveal its latest fiscal report. Summary: Nintendo makes money.

During the period of April to December 2008, Nintendo enjoyed global sales of 1,536 billion yen ($17 billion), an increase of almost 17% compared to the same period in 2007. Operating profits were also up to 501 billion yen ($5 billion), showing a 27% over the same period in 2007. It's not all sunshine and lollipops, however, as Nintendo reported losses of 18% in both recurring and net profits.

With Nintendo's 2008 fiscal year ending March 31st, it has upped its forecast as far as the DS is concerned, with hardware sales expected to rise by 3% to 31.5 million globally and software predicted to drop 7% to 193 million. Moving on to the Wii, Nintendo revised its prediction for both hardware and software sales -- predicted Wii sales drop 3% to 26.5 million systems and software lowers to 193 million games.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/la...record-growth/ ...