via joystiq

PlayStation Universe is reporting that Final Fantasy XIII has been confirmed for release in 2008. The news is based on an interview with Tetsuya Nomura (Director of Final Fantasy Versus XIII), which appeared in the January 19 issue of Japan's Famitsu magazine.

Closer inspection of the interview reveals that Nomura simply made the following statement with regard to Versus XIII:

"We're planning to have the final in-game graphics prepared at some point during 2007, so please wait for that -- and then we can speak about Versus XIII in more detail."

In light of that, a 2007 release for Versus XIII does seem unlikely, we admit, although not impossible. Release timings for Final Fantasy XIII and Agito XIII are not mentioned, though, and in the latest issue of Famitsu (February 9) all three games are still listed as having "unconfirmed" release dates. ...

via joystiq

GameDrift (whom we've never heard of) claims an anonymous Nintendo rep told them over the weekend that new Wii colors are coming this year. As you can imagine, details were sparse, but the tipster claims red and black are in the bag for sure and that we can expect those two -- in addition to others -- by the end of the year.

New colors for Wii were never a question of "if," only "when." After all, Nintendo released the promotional image the same day they unveiled what was then called the Revolution at E3 2005. But it's unlikely such a small site has a mole deep within Kyoto or Redmond headquarters and their quick use of "confirmed" doesn't help their credibility either. Still, one can hope for Puke Green later this year, right? ...

via joystiq

Siliconera reports that copies of Riot Act (a.k.a. Crackdown) will contain download codes for Halo 3 Beta, extending Microsoft's promotion to Japanese gamers. Peter Moore recently reiterated to IGN that Microsoft is "not going to back down" in its aggressive campaign to popularize the Xbox brand in Japan.

Including the download code inside Riot Act retail boxes is a friendly gesture, but it's not going to generate as many sales as the promotion will in North America or Europe, where Halo is a dominant franchise; and FPS in general, a leading genre. Still, Moore insists that the beta promotion isn't about boosting Crackdown's exposure, but rather, is simply an opportunity to pair potentially M-rated Halo 3 with an M-rated title. Guess that explains why Viva Piñata didn't include keys to the beta.

Riot Act will be available on February 22 in Japan, two days after the game is released in North America. Halo 3 Beta download codes will also be included with the European version of Crackdown. ...

One of the Llamma's Game Console forum readers has upped pics of their sweet new case mod.

The mod includes red lighting, a clear air tunnel, see-through DVD drive cover, oh and lots of blood spatter. That's spatter, not splatter. Let me know if you know the difference.

via kotaku ...

Nintendo just sent out their weekly Wii-kly update, detailing the four new classics hitting the Wii's virtual console today. Here's the run down:

Mario Kart 64(TM) (Nintendo(R) 64, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points): Put the pedal to the metal in this worthy successor to the Super NES(R) classic, Super Mario Kart(R). Mario Kart 64 boasts great graphics, tons of unique power-ups and a stunning 3-D version of the legendary Battle Mode. With improved courses and a revolutionary head-to-head four-player mode, Mario Kart 64 is sure to win the heart of any race-driving fan. The game includes 20 different courses filled with dips, valleys, jumps, tunnels and bridges. Smooth, precise control -- a trademark of all games from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto -- will bring players back time and time again for freewheeling fun.

Contra(R) III: The Alien Wars(TM) (Super NES(R), 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): In the year 2636, the Alien War continues, and it's up to two soldiers, Jimbo and Scully, to put a stop to the alien invasion. The aliens have ravaged the Earth with their powerful organic and technological weapons. Players can join with a partner and battle through six stages of nonstoprun-and-gun action. Collect power-ups, including bombs, flamethrowers, spread shots, lasers and machine guns to take out the aliens. Control Jimbo and Scully as they travel through war-torn cities, race on air bikes, ride missiles and ultimately break into the alien base to defeat the alien boss once and for all.

Bonanza Bros.(TM) (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Mobo and Robo Bonanza are enjoying their favorite television show when the picture crackles and the shadowy figure of a mysterious stranger appears on the screen. This figure asks them to collect certain items that he has placed inside various buildings to test his security force. If they return the items successfully, Mobo and Robo will be rewarded. The two of them state that they will get the job done in just three minutes. However, little do they know that each building is packed with security guards who will raise the alarm if they are caught red-handed. Fortunately both Mobo and Robo are equipped with bullets that can knock the guards unconscious for a few seconds. A huge reward will be given out if Mobo and Robo are apprehended. Help the infamous Bonanza Bros. infiltrate a number of different locations ranging from banks to mansions to casinos, and don't get caught.

Comix Zone(TM) (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Sketch Turner is an artist in New York City. One day while Sketch is drawing, a huge thunderstorm strikes the city. A bolt of lightning hits Sketch's image and brings it to life. That image is Mortus, a megalomaniacal mutant who wants to become real and rule the earth. Mortus magically transports Sketch into the pages of his comic book so that he can end his creator's life and become real. Inside the comic book, Sketch meets General Alissa Cyan, who believes he is a superhero that came to save their post-apocalyptic world from the evil brought by Mortus's hand. Now that he's a comic book superhero, Sketch can really put the hurt on the bad guys. Instantly, Sketch can fight like a one-man mercenary platoon.

Damn the lack of online gameplay. Damn it to hell.

via kotaku ...

via gamesradar

Disney's Spectrobes game for DS will bring together the worlds of Pokemon-style collect-'em-all gameplay and Panini sticker-esque trade-'em-all fervour in a heady mix of addiction when it launches on 16 March. Each game pack will include four lenticular cards, which will unlock special bits and pieces in the game, and more will be available after the game's release so Spectrobes fans can play swapsies.

The four cards work by laying them over the DS touch-screen. There's a series of holes in each card and, by tapping through them to the screen beneath in the right order, you'll unlock special creatures and minerals.

With the ability to earn your own Spectrobes patrol badge for display on the official website, downloadable creatures and minerals, and wireless multiplayer battles, in addition to the card-trading, Spectrobes looks sure to enthral hoarders and obsessive gamers alike. We'll be dealing out a review in the next few weeks. ...

via gibiz

Microsoft's Peter Moore has declared that there's nothing about PlayStation 3 which could give it the edge over Xbox 360 in the next-gen console war.

"I really don't know what I would look at there that we're really missing," he told IGN.

"I look at the games and I feel really good at where we stand from a portfolio point of view. The online service, they're still trying to get it up to speed and there's nothing really there that I can really point to that I wish we had.

"You know, certainly the price point of the PS3 isn't something that I want to emulate. It's very difficult for me to point to anything there that I think we're missing right now," he concluded.

When it comes to Microsoft's other rival in the console space, Moore said he is "certainly a big fan" of the Nintendo Wii. However, he described the company's strategy as "what Nintendo needs to do", suggesting that "it ties directly into their strong intellectual property that is more youth oriented and more family oriented".

Microsoft recently met its target of selling more than 10 million consoles to retail by the end of 2006, but has cut its shipping forecast for the months up to July from 13 - 15 million units to 12 million units. ...

GRAW 2 PS3 will now be available in 'spring', according to Ubisoft's latest release schedule, despite previously being listed as a launch title for the console.

However, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Oblivion, Blazing Angels and Rainbow Six Vegas will all still make the deadline of 23rd March.

Still, don't despair, there's reason to be cheerful as Eurogamer TV houses a new developer diary for GRAW2.

In it we take a look at the technology behind the upcoming game, learning how next-gen capabilities are making it possible for "videogames to look and feel this amazing."

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 is due for release on Xbox 360 on 9th March, PC and PSP on 30th March, then PS3 in Spring.

via eurogamer ...

Well its one of those times when Wraggy has to voice his opinion, some cheeky git on EBAY is selling an unpatched version of GTA Liberty City Stories for a starting bid of $400.

Does that take the piss or what. if the price werte say $40 then i could understand the hike but 400 dollars is way over what anyone should pay.

anyone get an opinion on this ?

DIGG THIS ...