via cvg

In preparation for the European launch this Friday, the UK version of the Wii Virtual Console has just gone live, and blighty gamers will be disappointed to hear that some downloadable retro games suffer from black borders and significantly slower game speed than their US equivalents.

Among the games reported to suffer from poor PAL ports on the UK Virtual Console are Sonic the Hedgehog and F-Zero.

We tested Sonic on our PAL system and low and behold the game does indeed sport a pair of black borders along the top and bottom of the screen, but even more worrying is that the PAL version of the game runs significantly slower than the US equivalent, somewhat hampering its speedy platforming gameplay.

For anyone young enough not to remember, this is down to 1980s Japanese and American game designers' failure to accommodate the extra 100 lines of the PAL display signal, resulting in a squashed and bordered view. Back before the days of 60hz options, the slower scan rate of the European TV system also resulted in slower-running games.

Bizarrely we also tried out Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario 64 - a game that suffered from a terrible PAL port - on our UK Wii, and they both matched the US Virtual Console versions with no borders and smooth-running gameplay.

When we contacted Nintendo UK regarding the issue it was unfortunately unavailable for comment, but we'll let you know when they get back to us.

UPDATE: You can now see Sonic's borders for yourself in our screen and Mario's full-screen conversion as well (ignore the dodgy Mac button).

Screens Via Comments ...

The UK version of the Wii Virtual Console has just gone live, and we've discovered a few significant changes from the its North American counter-part.

Apart from the puzzling swap of all of the game graphics, the UK version of Nintendo's download service has one title that those chaps across the pond can't get their hands on; the excellent SNES platformer Donkey Kong Country.

However it's not all good news for UK Wii owners; the recent US update to the Virtual console which added Donkey Kong Jr., Victory Run and Mega Drive titles Ristar and Columns - with the exception of Victory Run - doesn't seem to have made its way to our shores.

Nintendo UK was unavailable to comment on when we'll be getting these currently US-only Virtual Console titles, but we'll be sure to let you know when they get back to us.

via cvg ...

In the latest Virtua Tennis 3 screenshot serve-up Sega has revealed some of the third instalment's wild and wacky mini-games.

According to Sega, the first game 'Drum Topple' challenges you with scattering a carefully built house of drums around the tennis court within a set time limit, with awards up for grabs for more powerful strokes.

There's no mention of the other two mini-games though; a bizarre looking giant-ball affair complete with various pieces of fruit, and something that looks a bit like tennis bowling. For now, we can only dream what those giant tennis balls are for.

Virtua Tennis 3 is out on PC, Xbox 360, PS3 and PSP in Spring 2007.

News and Screens at CVG ...

New details emerging on the PS3 version of From Software's RPG Enchanted Arms are telling us to expect numerous improvements over the already-released Xbox 360 iteration.

According to a report on 1up, improvements include the likes of the game's story benefiting from new episodes, graphics being given a lick of the soup-up brush to bring them more inline with the title's movie sequences and characters receiving a makeover. In addition, the battle system is being tweaked and there's significant work being done with the title's music - and apparently "a large number of new golems will be added".

Enchanted Arms, which has previously been described as one of the first true next-gen RPG adventures, hits PS3 and Japan in January 2007. In the game, you play Atsuma, a young enchanter who is living during a time of war and eventually develops into a kick-ass fighter and magic wielder who'll save the day.

via cvg ...

EA has released a few details on SSX Blur, the new instalment in the snowboarding series that's being developed at EA Montreal exclusively for Wii.

The Wii instalment of the much-loved snowboarding series was revealed last weekend on US TV, and if you haven't already you can watch the trailer yourself.

According to the publisher, Blur retains the series tricks and racing formula but the fun-factor is "amplified by the unique capability of the Nintendo Wii controller". It claims that the game features everything you'd expect from the franchise, "delivered in a totally unexpected way" and there's talk of the controls taking full advantage of the console "by putting you in total command of your skier or rider, on-the-ground & in-the-air, by translating every motion you make into the skills that create mountain legends."

"We wanted to take the soul of the franchise-the air, the speed, the tricks, the fun-and Wii-ify it," Alex Hyder, producer on the product, has explained. "You're going to see that reflected in the On-the-Ground & In-the-Air controls, the characters, the user interface, and every other aspect of this game."

Via CVG ...

All we can say is "Oof" at some of these new screenshots from MotorStorm that reveal further motor carnage in PS3's mud-caked racing title. It's got more flying body parts than a human being dropped onto a spinning propeller. And we won't entertain that particular image any longer than we have to...

Anyway, enjoy.

Screens Here ...

Freshly swiped from EA's screenshot fortress, we've got 29 (count 'em, 29) new Fight Night Round 3 PlayStation 3 screenshots, which is due in shops sometime next year.

As you've probably noticed, EA has moved the action in to first-person for the PlayStation 3 update, which we must say is looking nigh-on stunning on Sony's hardware. Hopefully this should make for a more visceral boxing experience, but we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out.

News and Screens at CVG ...

If you've resisted the urge to go back to good old Gears curb-stomping and are still gardening away in Viva Piñata, then you'll be pleased to know that a slew of Piñata download content has just hit Xbox Live Marketplace - and you can buy earrings!

90 Microsoft points is the asking price for the latest pack, which gives you a pair of mermaid earrings (!), romance earrings and a Santa hat to buy from the pet store in your paper-mache village.

And if that simply isn't enough to quench your frothing demand for more multi-coloured animal downloads, there's also a pair of "sweet and sour" gamerpic packs up today for 80 points each.

Oh sod it - we're off to build a new house for our paper badgers.

via cvg ...

Here's what you'll need:
- An SD adaptor such as SD Media Launcher or SD Gecko (Note: While SD Gecko is undoubtedly superior to SD Media Launcher, it doesn't come with any SD Media software).
- An SD card (It's compatible with SD cards up to 4GB. SDHC do NOT work).
- A computer with any type of SD card reader.

Adding applications/emulators is simple. Just copy the .DOL file onto the SD card. If you want everything to be a little more organized, then simply make folders for the different apps.

If you plan to make your own adapter, then follow this diagram courtesy of IamAbe:




Using Action Replay software

For those of you who have action replay software and wish to explore the world of homebrew on your unmodded Gamecube.

Here's what you need:
- A Gamecube SD card adapter
- An SD Card (same as the requirements mentioned above)
- Action Replay software and a Gamecube (obviously)

Software Needed:
SDLoad

The Tutorial (courtesy of Apocalyptic980c):

1) Plug your SD card into your computer, now using the link above get a hold of SDLoad. Firstly, you have to format the SD card to either FAT or FAT16. If you can't do this, return your computer to the store from which you bought it. After formatting it, run sdpatch.exe through the command line as follows:

sdpatch.exe (drive letter):/

Now copy SDLOADER.BIN to the root of the card. At this point you can load it up with emulators and what not as long as they are in .dol format . They can be in any directory as long as SDLOADER.BIN is in the root.

2) After installing the above insert SD card into SD card reader and plug into memory card slot A. Insert your action replay card into B and the disc into that place where discs go.

3) When AR boots up, pick the USA flag and then ADD NEW GAME. SDLOAD is the game name and push done. Then enter (m) as the code name. Enter the following code:



Then select ADD NEW CODE and name it SDLOAD.

Enter the following code:



Select the code named SDLOAD and check the box next to it, press start, and proceed to open and close the lid of disc drive when prompted. SDLOAD starts up and you can take it from there!

The Code Process is a one time thing and from then on you can enjoy the world of Gamecube Homebrew and Emulators on your console easily and without any modification.

Emulators for Gamecube that will work this way include emulators for Atari 2600, NES, Master System, SNES, Genesis, N64 (in progress), Neo Geo CD, Gameboy Color, and Gameboy Advance!

Enjoy legal homebrew and emulation on your Gamecube!

Many thanks to Apocalyptic980c for the AR SDLOAD tutorial and Costis for his excellent SDLOAD Application.

Where to buy:
SD Media Launcher (US/UK)
Action Replay software (US/UK)


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