Via Gamespot

Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 6 (also known as Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007) has sold the most in a game's first week in the UK since Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas debuted two years ago. Those sales see it slip comfortably into the number one slot on the UK all-formats game chart.

FIFA 07's Xbox 360 version joins the game's seven other formats to help keep the title at number two, with sales up 96 percent on last week.

Rockstar Games' Canis Canem Edit (known as Bully outside of the UK) was the second-highest new entry at number five. Bully and PES6 are among seven other newbies this week, including Guild Wars: Nightfall at 15, Singstar Legends at 24, and Mortal Kombat: Armageddon at 27.

There are five titles heading upward, including Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, up one place to eight; Buzz! The Big Quiz, up four to 14; and Destroy All Humans 2, which went up two places to 19.

The biggest loser of the week is Kingdom Hearts 2, falling a massive 16 places to 32, with The Godfather down 14 to 37, and The Sims 2: Glamour Life Stuff almost out of the charts completely, down 13 to 39.

Next Friday (if UK retailers can manage to stick to the release dates) will see the release of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War expansion pack Dark Crusade, Neverwinter Nights 2, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, Need for Speed Carbon, and Desperate Housewives: The Game. ...

Source: Posts on message boards like the official Xbox forums and Team Xecuter, followed up on by articles at mod-savvy sites like Xbox Scene.

The official story: A Microsoft rep said the company had no comment at this time.

What we heard: Microsoft released its Fall System Update for the Xbox 360 today and Internet forums were quickly buzzing with reports that the update had "bricked" users' consoles, rendering them unable to play games or even boot up normally.

While Microsoft is staying mum on the subject, the bulk of speculation is that the Fall Update is intended to brick Xbox 360s that have been modded. However, some posters are reporting problems with unmodded consoles being bricked, and forum-goers at Xbox Scene are saying that the update is not consistently bricking modded consoles.

Furthermore, Team Xecuter is reporting that bricked consoles can still be repaired relatively painlessly, and that Microsoft isn't banning GamerTags or specific systems from Xbox Live, something that would seem a distinct possibility if the company wanted to come down hard on modders.

So what's the deal here? If Microsoft intended to brick modded consoles, it didn't do a very thorough job of it (perhaps a warning shot to make people think twice about modding systems?). If it's an unexpected bug with the Fall Update, it seems convenient that it's happening primarily to modded systems.

Still, the few reports of the Fall Update bricking unmodded systems are troubling. While fixing the system might be an easy thing for people who cracked their systems open in the first place to mod them, it's still not something the average gamer is bound to be capable of doing.

Whether intentional or not, it seems the Fall Update is turning some Xbox 360s into paperweights. But with varying reports about who it's happening to and why, and Microsoft not explaining what's going on, there's no sure way to say which 360s will be affected by the problem.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus. ...

dean73 writes to mention an article at the SeekJapan site entitled The State of Gaming in Japan. The article runs down the seventh round of the console war from the Japanese perspective. IE: The one where Microsoft is probably going to lose. From the article:
...

There must be something really hard about making those Blu-ray players that no one seems to have anticipated. First Sony had to announce twice that its BDP-S1 was going to be delayed until December 2006 due to software bugs. Now Pioneer has been delayed too, for unspecified failure to meet "quality control requirements," which may or may not be related to the other assorted blue laser shortages. The BDP-HD1, which was due to come out this month (after having been delayed from its previous May launch), won't ship now until December as well. The price, however, has dropped since we last eyed it at CES -- it's now down to $1500. We're still not sure which is bluer, us consumers, who have been trying to get one of these Blu-ray players until we go blue in the face, or Pioneer, who is singin' the blues. (This entry has been brought to you by the color "blue.") ...

Play Asia have posted news of the latest Gaming and related releases for today, heres the list:

PlayStation2™:
.hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth US US$ 49.90
Devil May Cry Greatest Hits Set US US$ 39.90
Phantasy Star Universe US US$ 59.90

Sony PSP™:
Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded US US$ 39.90
Dynasty Warriors 2 US US$ 39.90
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance ASIA US$ 39.90
Silicone Cover Portable (black) US$ 9.90
Silicone Cover Portable (white) US$ 9.90

Nintendo DS™:
Hoshi no Kirby Sanjyo! JPN US$ 48.90
Love Hamster JPN US$ 48.90
Mega Man ZX US US$ 29.90
Wallet Pouch DS Lite (black) US$ 18.90
Wallet Pouch DS Lite (blue) US$ 18.90
Wallet Pouch DS Lite (white) US$ 18.90

Mega Man ZX is a restock item, now back again as US release version as long as supplies last.

New Music & Soundtracks:
Biohazard 4 Soundtrack Book Original Soundtrack + Visual Booklet JPN US$ 24.90
Ee'Mall & ee'Mall 2nd avenue Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 34.90
Pop'n Music 14 Fever & ee'MALL Original Soundtrack Set JPN US$ 74.90
Pop'n Music 14 Fever Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 42.90
Rebirth [Deka Jacket Limited Pressing] (~Gackt) JPN US$ 36.90

The Biohazard 4 Soundtrack Book Original Soundtrack + Visual Booklet has been restocked today as well in limited quantities.

Books, Magazines & Toys:
Arcadia Magazine [December 2006] JPN US$ 12.90
Famitsu Wave DVD [December 2006] JPN US$ 16.50
Gyakuten Saiban Official Fan Book Vol.2 JPN US$ 14.90
Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Phone Strap Gashapon US$ 1.99 ...

Another Major Nintendo DS Release and in English:



features
Experience a whole new way to capture Pokémon! Circle Pokémon using the Capture Styler with Nintendo DS stylus control.
Use each Pokémon's special abilities to clear obstacles and to help capture other Pokémon.
Capture and interact with more than 200 of your favorite Pokémon.
Work your way up the Pokémon Ranger ranks by succeeding at official missions throughout the Fiore region.

description
With the help of Pokémon, set out on a fun-filled adventure! You play as a Pokémon Ranger in the Fiore Region, where you work to preserve nature and protect Pokémon.

Pokémon Ranger is unlike any Pokémon game you've played before. You control your character using the stylus, and all Pokémon are captured using a Capture Styler instead of a Poké Ball. Since you're a Pokémon Ranger and not a trainer, you must release each captured Pokémon back into the wild after they help you. It's a whole new way to explore the Pokémon universe!

Price: US$ 39.90 (~21.22 GBP)

Buy Now at Play Asia ...

Major new game released for Nintendo DS:



description
In ages past, an island called Illusia floated at the center of the world. At the heart of the island towered an ancient, enormous tree that stretched up to the very heavens. For ages past, chaos and sorrow had engulfed the world until at last its salvation appeared in the form of a boy, a girl, and a holy sword.

Time flowed on and peace returned. The sword and the tree remained, and they soon came to be known as the Sword of Mana and the Mana Tree. Followers of the Mana Tree returned to Illusia as the world started slowly but surely down the path to recovery.

Price: US$ 39.90 (~21.22 GBP)

Buy Now at Play Asia ...

Mega Massive release for the PS2 and at Play Asia:



description
Since 1987, the FINAL FANTASY® series has sold over 63 million units, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. FINAL FANTASY XII carries on the tradition of gaming innovation, fantastic graphics and epic storytelling. With a brand-new battle system bringing more realistic and seamless action to the player’s fingertips, this latest installment promises to take role-playing games to the next level through a beautiful and heart-stopping adventure.

The story of FINAL FANTASY XII takes place in a world called “Ivalice,” in an age when magic was commonplace and airships plied the skies, crowding out the heavens. War was on the horizon. Seeking to strengthen its base of power, the great Archadian Empire had been invading and subjugating its neighboring kingdoms one by one. The small Kingdom of Dalmasca was one such kingdom. Our story follows Vaan, a young man living on the streets of Dalmasca’s Royal City of Rabanastre, the Princess Ashe, the sole remaining heir to the Dalmascan throne who had been given up for missing, as well as Vaan’s friend Penelo, the sky pirate Balthier, Balthier’s partner Fran and many more on an adventure through Ivalice that traces the mysteries behind the Archadian Empire’s invasion.

Price: US$ 59.90 (~31.86 GBP)

Buy now at Play Asia ...

New Xbox360 game at PlayAsia:



features
Story-based adventure that relives key moments of the movie
Burn rubber in over 30 races and mini-games
Explore the open-world of Radiator Springs
Speed to the finish line with over 10 playable characters
Make your friends eat your dust in multiplayer mode
Features all of the major voice talent from the movie

description
Race to the finish line as you live all the fun and excitement of the next Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film, "Cars." Play as all your favorite characters as you help Lightning McQueen capture the coveted Piston Cup Championship.

Price: US$ 39.90 (~21.22 GBP) from Play Asia ...