US Xbox 360 owners will see a slew of new video content hitting Xbox Live soon, thanks to the signing of six new content providers.

A&E Network, ADV Films, National Geographic, TotalVid.com, Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment have joined the list of providers to offer HD media via the online download service.

Paramount pictures will offer high-definition versions of Braveheart, Team America: World Police, World Trade Centre and one of our favourites, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.

In addition, Warner Bros. will make available its 'direct-to-video' movies simultaneously with their DVD release. Sublime and Babylon 5: The Lost Tales will be among the first titles to arrive from the studio.

We're particularly excited about what could come from ADV films, being a massive distributor of Japanese anime.

"With more than 300 games expected by year's end, an Xbox LIVE community of more than 6 million people and a growing catalogue of premium content from some of the biggest names in entertainment today, Xbox 360 is an incredible value", said Microsoft boss, Peter Moore.

"Adding partners and content like this helps reinforce the console's position as the center of connected entertainment in the living room," he added.

While it has not been specified when this video content will be made available to UK, we hope it will be some time soon, hopefully along with the Euro release of the beefed-up Xbox 360 Elite, which is also awaiting a UK date, as we reported earlier today.

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Microsoft has assured us that the Xbox 360 Elite won't take over from current Core and Premium packs, saying it's about offering a further option to gamers.

"Both the Premium Xbox 360 and the Core Xbox 360 are very important for offering you as much choice as possible when buying an Xbox 360. The Elite Xbox 360 does not replace either of these", Mike Newey, Platform Marketing Manager, Xbox Europe, has explained.

He continued, "...rather, it offers a further option for the kind of gamer who wants the biggest possible hard drive, HDMI connectivity at a great value price."

Although Xbox 360 Elite has only been confirmed for the US so far, Newey said that Microsoft is "definitely committed to bringing the Xbox 360 Elite to Europe". But he can't offer further information on this at this time.

Xbox 360 Elite, which is decked out in black and features a 120Gb HDD and HDMI support, launches in the US on April 29, priced $479.99. A 120GB hard drive will also be sold as an add-on for $179.99.

via cvg ...

In the second announcement of the day, DOA dev Tecmo has revealed that its excellent slash-em-up series Ninja Gaiden is heading to DS, reports Famitsu.

Interestingly, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (another excellent use of the DS initials) has the player holding the console in a vertical manor ala Brain Training, for a more forward-looking view of the action.

Events play out in a 3D top-down view and the whole game is played using just the DS stylus. Other than that we can't really pull much information from the Famitsu article (Mike needs more Japanese lessons), but we'll let you know when more info surfaces from the Far East.

Screen Here ...

Whispers emanating from the Capcom forums are tipping Capcom's April 12 event as the possible place to be for the unveiling of Resident Evil 5 for PS3 and 360.

Whenever a major publisher plans an event for the press, it's usually to show off something new and make a few announcements. We already know what one of those announcements will be, but we've been sworn to secrecy for the time being.

All eyes are now on Resident Evil and whether the firm will show the fifth instalment of the series or Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles on Wii. We'll let you know as Capcom Day moves closer.

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Hastings has updated a blog with his ten reasons why he thinks PS3 is the one to beat in the next-gen console war. Quickly though, he points out that "Insomniac is a 100% independent development studio. Sony has neither endorsed nor authorized what I'm writing here."

He added, "I wanted to address an ongoing industry phenomenon. Specifically, the sheer volume of negative spin toward Sony from both the mainstream press and the internet community. Mere minutes after Sony announced a beautiful, ground breaking, free, community-enhancing online PS3 service, 100 internet posters were trying to argue that this was somehow a bad thing.

"Whether you love or hate Sony, if you're trying to spin Home as a bad thing I can only conclude that you're part of Microsoft's $3.2 billion viral marketing campaign."

Without further ado, Hastings' ten reasons you need to sit up and listen to PS3.


Home & Little Big Planet

Free Online

50 GB games

Casino Royale

HDMI

Standard HDD

The Wii Fad Will Fade

PS3 Has a Major CPU Advantage

PS2 still outselling 360

Something For Everyone

via cvg ...

A UK online retailer briefly listed a brand new Prince of Persia game, with what is presumably it's new moniker.

Blink and you will have missed it. But there are some internet ninjas out there that don't miss a beat.

Although the listing for the Xbox 360 game has now been taken down, you can expect the new PoP game to be called something along the lines of Prince of Persia: Ghost of the Past. So either a prequel to the recent trilogy or a baddie from teh past rears his ugly head?

Play may have taken down the listing as soon as it went up, but Google can't be cheated. It knows EVERYTHING!
We'll be in touch with Ubisoft later this morning.

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Heres the amazing press release:



SEGA® Corporation and Nintendo Co. Ltd. today made a historical announcement that two of the biggest icons in the entertainment industry, Mario™ and Sonic™, are joining forces to star in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Developed for the Wii™ video game system and the Nintendo DS™ system, this momentous agreement marks the first time these two renowned stars have appeared together in a game.

Published by SEGA across Europe and North America, and published by Nintendo in the Japanese market, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games will be available for Christmas 2007 and is licensed through a worldwide partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive interactive entertainment software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, players will compete in events that take place in environments based on the official venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Using a supporting cast of characters from the amazing worlds of both Mario and Sonic, gamers will be able to compete as or against a range of lovable personalities including Mario, Sonic, Luigi™, Knuckles™, Yoshi®, Tails™ and more. Innovative usage of the Wii and DS control systems to maneuver a favourite character will allow players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, engage in exhilarating rallies in table tennis and churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much sought after gold medal.

“We are thrilled to partner with Nintendo and ISM on this groundbreaking title,” said Hisao Oguchi, President and Chief Operating Officer, SEGA Corporation. “For the first time, two of the world’s greatest games’ characters come together to compete in the world’s greatest sporting event and we couldn’t be more excited.”

“Mario and Sonic have been respectful rivals since the early days of video games,” says Shigeru Miyamoto, Senior Managing Director and General Manager, Entertainment Analysis and Development Division, Nintendo Co., Ltd.. “In fact, for a long time they have been discussing the possibility of one day competing against each other. Now that they have been given the perfect opportunity to meet at the Olympic Games, we may finally learn who is actually faster, Mario or Sonic?”

“The Olympic Games represent the true spirit of competition and passion,” said Raymond Goldsmith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ISM. “Bringing together intensely competitive and fun characters like Mario and Sonic in an Olympic setting helps showcase the sports of the Olympic Games in a new and compelling way for all generations.”

Awesome News for the Gaming World ...

SoftDev has released a new version of his NeoGeo CD emulator for the Nintendo Wii/GameCube. .

Heres What's New


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Eke-eke has released a new version of the Sega Master System emulator for the Gamecube/Nintendo Wii. heres whats new:


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