In a move that could have oppressed German game developers looking jealously towards the southwest, the French Parliament has approved a plan to allow game developers creating games with a "with a cultural dimension" a tax credit equaling 20% of development costs up to 3 million euros a year. That's a pretty sizeable chunk of change aimed at keeping developers in the country, providing a sharp contrast to Germany, where some game developers are looked on and treated like borderline criminals.

So what determines if a game has a cultural dimension? Anything from the story the music, the look and feel, etc., so while a game about killing space aliens on a made up planet might not fall under the criteria, killing space aliens in the Louvre to the music of Jean-Marie Leclair just might.

Devs shouldn't start counting their euros yet however, as the European Commission is currently looking the plan over to see if it constitutes a EU policy violating subsidy.

via kotaku ...

via insert credit

Not wishing to miss a trick, Gundam Musou will be bundled with 60GB PlayStation 3's. Listed in Koei's Game City shop, the bundle is being touted at the sphincter tightening price of 72,000 yen (though other places online are saying that the price will be "open"). The bundle comes with two artbooks and 8 cards (though these little trinkets aren't available if you decide to purchase the vanilla release). This bundle will be available on March 1st and will probably sell in epic numbers. ...

At last. Real scientific evidence that GTA is good for brains: according to the scientific lab boffins at FKF Applied Research and the UCLA Ahmanson Lovelace Brain Mapping Centre, squishy skull-encased sponges simply love GTA. Or, at least, they dig this spoof ad for Coca Cola.

In an experiment to record the effectiveness of adverts during the recent Super Bowl, it was discovered that the amusing GTA-inspired ad was one of the 'best testing' and 'fired the region of consumers' brains associated with positive emotions', reports DailyTech.

With this foolproof evidence to hand, we're sure that we can expect to see more ads jumping on the bandwagon... expect Manhunt Happy Meals to be hitting a McDonalds near you soon. Maybe.

via gamesradar ...

Detectives seem to be stampeding on to the Nintendo DS these days. First, it was ace attorney Phoenix Wright's courtroom dramas, then the film-noir style Hotel Dusk: Room 215--not to mention Touch Detective.

The latest investigator to snoop on the handheld is Nancy Drew, in her new interactive adventure titled Nancy Drew: Deadly Secret of Olde World Park. The game will use the touch screen to search for clues, undertake tasks, talk to other characters, and play minigames.

In the game, Olde World is a new multi-million-dollar theme park created by billionaire Thaddeus Belmont, and designed to bring jobs and tourist dollars to the sleepy small town River Heights. However, on the night before the park is due to open, Belmont has disappeared, and Nancy is called in to investigate.

The story is told over 15 chapters, and tasks will become more and more difficult as the game continues. Minigames include a task designed to build conversational rapport with witnesses to get them to reveal information by choosing how to question them, with options ranging from light-hearted to accusatory. Others include a lock-picking game, and sneaking using shadows to access new areas.

Nancy Drew: Deadly Secret of Olde World Park is developed by Gorilla Systems, published by Majesco, and due for a European and US release in Q4.

via gamespot ...

The Xbox 360 may have lost its title as the fastest-selling home console in Australia to the Nintendo Wii, but that hasn't stopped local Microsoft execs from touting the machine's success. Australia's top Xbox executive, Microsoft's David McLean, says the 360 is well ahead of its last-gen competitors at this stage of its life cycle, and is well poised to take on its next-gen challengers.

In an interview with GameSpot AU (read the full transcript here), McLean--Microsoft Home and Entertainment Division Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand--said the 360 had sold 145,000 units in its first 45 weeks of sale down under, with a current attach rate of 4.8 games per console. McLean says the 360 is well ahead of where Sony's PlayStation 2 was at the same stage. The PS2 was first released in Australia in 2000, and has sold 2.2 million units so far.

"We launched 45 weeks ago [in Australia]. In the PS2’s first 45 weeks, they sold 116,000 units. In our first 45 weeks, we sold 145,000 units. So if you think about momentum and moving from that to a situation of 2.2 million units over time, we feel we’re on track. We’re ahead of where our competitors were at this stage of the life cycle," he said.

"At this point in my competitor’s life cycle [for the PS2], their attach rate was 2.5 units of software per console, according to GfK Australia. At that time, they had their major franchises out in the market. Grand Theft Auto 3, Gran Turismo 3 and Metal Gear Solid 2 were available. Our attach rate is currently running at 4.8-–we’ve just released Gears of War, we’ve got some heavy hitting titles coming this year with Halo 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Crackdown. We’re extremely confident that we’ll see our attach rate grow at an accelerated rate."

Despite the bullish outlook, McLean did confirm that internal forecasts for 360 sales in Australia to the end of June 2007 were being lowered in line with the software giant's global outlook. As part of its last earnings report, Microsoft said it was targeting 12 million units sold by the end of June, down from an earlier forecast of 13-15 million. McLean declined to disclose a specific forecast for the Australian market.

"Typically we don’t talk about numbers for individual regions, but we are a part of that global number," he said. "I think it's a good decision for us as a business to make. It's focusing on the right things--being profitable, focusing on great software and accessories attach, focusing on providing new services and experiences for our gamers and creating a healthy ecosystem around Xbox 360."

via gamespot ...

Alan Wake (the game with the really great tornado from last year's E3) has been reconfirmed as an exclusive title for Microsoft platforms. Via Wired's Game|Life blog, the news comes from the awesomely named Helsingin Sanomat website. Remedy (makers of the Max Payne titles) had this game slated as a 360/PC exclusive back in their E3 2006 trailers, but news of Microsoft's new 'mentoring' role for the company appears to have renewed interest in the game. It's unclear why Microsoft isn't following their general pattern of purchasing the company outright, but the 30-employee strong company is staying independent. Microsoft's resources still back the company, though:
"Microsoft has huge machinery for games production. If a team of 80 voice actors are needed from the States, they can provide it. Their test laboratory is also fantastic."

via /. ...

Via GameSpot, the news on the University of Rochester site is that playing videogames can actually improve your vision. Games, especially action shooters, actually change the way your brain looks at the world. According to the findings of researchers Daphne Bavelier and Shawn Green, visual processing is enhanced through consistent play of complex graphical titles. Simple orientation tests were much easier for a group that played UT, compared to a group that only played Tetris.

via /. ...

via engadget

Brace yourselves good people of New York, mother government is prepared to step in (again) and save you from yourselves. Senator Carl Kruger is reportedly set to introduce legislation that would ban the use of MP3 players, cellphones, and any other electronic device while crossing the street in New York City or other "big cities" in the state. The proposed ban follows two recent pedestrian deaths in Kruger's district where at least one is said to be the result of a person "listening to his iPod." We just gotta wonder: if police can't enforce jaywalking laws in NYC, how could they possibly enforce this? ...

The highly-anticipated PlayStation 3 sequel to Guerilla Game's Killzone is to be officially unveiled at next month's GDC, CVG has learned.

Well placed US sources have revealed to us that the flagship Sony shooter will be shown in full glory at the San Francisco event, perhaps even in the form of a playable demo.

As well as its high price point, the PS3 (like most consoles) has faced criticism for a lack of really high profile, compelling games which make it a 'must buy' and the big reveal of Killzone 2 will also form the spearhead for a raft of new PS3 game announcements at the show, which Sony hope will drive PS3 sales through the roof during the European launch and beyond in the big lead up to the all- important Christmas 2007 market.

SCE worldwide studios president Phil Harrison is also due to keynote at the event, which takes place on March 5 to 9.

Killzone 2 was previously shown in video form to an impressed audience at Sony's E3 2005 press conference, but the video was later revealed to be a pre-rendered cut-scene, and not in-game graphics.

via cvg ...