Blue Dragon 360 bundles sell out after first day of pre-orders

Ladies and gentlemen, you might want to sit down; the Xbox 360 has sold out In Japan. Well, the special-edition Blue Dragon bundles have, anyway.

Pre-orders began yesterday for the SE bundle, of which there are 10,000 units, and it miraculously managed to sell out in Japan almost immediately, with the additional 90,000 'standard' bundles reportedly selling fast.

According to 1up.com, one major online retailer managed to sell out of their SE allotment in five minutes, with others managing to last most of the day.

The special-edition bundle contains an Xbox 360 core system with Blue Dragon, along with an original table calendar, Blue Dragon faceplate illustrated by game artist Akira Toriyama and a set of five miniature character figures. All of this for the bargain price of 29,800 yen (134 JPN).

Considering the huge amount of Toriyama fans in the Far East and severe shortages of the PS3, the pre-order sell out is perhaps not so surprising. Still, it's a much-needed boost for Microsoft in Japan, where most weeks it has been struggling to shift even 1,000 units of its next-gen console.

Is MS about to get the break its been praying for in the world's gaming capital? Watch this space ...

Xbox Live beta of Sega's online adventure game extended to Saturday

Good news if, like us, you're currently hopelessly addicted to the Xbox Live beta of Sega's Phantasy Star Universe; you now have until Saturday 21st to grind your character to oblivion.

According to an announcement on the official Japanese PSU website, the beta will now run until 4pm on the 21st in Japan (about 7am UK time) and considering that Japan is sharing the same servers as the US and us here in Europe, we can assume that we'll have the extra few days to play as well.

Unfortunately the beta has already been taken off of Xbox Live Marketplace, so if you haven't downloaded it yet you're out of luck.

PSU is out in the US next week, with the European release following on November 24. Happy adventuring. ...

Wario Ware Smooth Moves misses Christmas. Nintendo confirms January 15 in the US with a European details to follow

Being a confirmed launch-day release in Japan, we were hoping to see Wario Ware Smooth Moves in Europe in time for Christmas.

This now seems highly unlikely after Nintendo confirms it won't hit US stores until January 15 2007. Nintendo would not disclose the European release date to CVG, but it's pretty safe to assume we won't be seeing Wario Ware over here before the US release.

If you're desperate for crazy, 10-second micro-game action you could import the Japanese version, which will launch with the Wii on December 2. Needless to say, you'll need a Japanese Wii to play it on. ...

New multiplayer trailers stealth in, in anticipation of the latest Splinter Cell game's imminent release

Part of the Splinter Cell: Double Agent experience will involve returning to the murky world of Spies versus Mercs confrontations in multiplayer. Already proving its quality in previous games in the series, the multiplayer has Mercs playable from the first-person perspective while the sneaky Spies are played in third-person allowing players to be more aware of the environment. Double Agent throws a few tweaks into the mix to evolve the gameplay - two new trailers show Mercs and Spies in operation.

Double Agent on Xbox 360 releases tomorrow, with PS2, Xbox and GameCube versions out on October 27. The PC iteration brings up the rear on November 3. We'll have a full review hitting these pages shortly.

Trailer Here ...

News via GIBiz

The PlayStation 3 price reduction in Japan and a delay to the hardware launch in Europe have forced Sony Corp to reduce its income forecasts for 2007, along with poor performance of the PSP handheld and the continuing problems encountered from a worldwide recall of notebook batteries.

For the year ending March 2007, Sony expects a 38 per cent drop in net income, adjusting the previous forecast from 130 billion yen (EUR 872 million) to 80 billion yen (EUR 573 million). Operating income has been reduced from 130 billion yen to 50 billion (EUR 336 million).

"A decrease in sales and an increase in operating loss are expected within the Game segment as a result of the reduction of the retail price of PlayStation 3 hardware in Japan and the fact that sales and profitability from the PSP business are expected to be lower than originally forecast," said the company in an official statement.

Sony also admitted a "decreased operating income is anticipated within the Electronics segment due to a production adjustment of devices for use in PS3, including semiconductors."

"With regard to PS3, although we expect to record a loss for the business during its initial launch phase within the current fiscal year, we look forward to the successful worldwide deployment and expansion of the platform," said the manufacturer.

"As a result, we expect that we can realise a significant improvement in profitability during the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2008."

Sony announced at last months' Tokyo Game Show that the price of the Japanese PlayStation 3 was to be reduced from 62,790 yen (EUR 421) to 49,980 yen (EUR 335) for the 20GB unit. ...

Microsoft is taking Xbox 360 on tour around six UK cities between now and the start of December, giving potential customers from Newcastle to Southampton the chance to try new games like Viva Piñata and Gears of War.

As well as playing games like these, and Xbox Live Arcade titles including Marble Blast Ultra and Street Fighter II, attendees will also be able to sample the new wireless headset, wireless racing wheel and Xbox Live Vision camera.

The Xbox 360 Games Tour kicks off in Manchester between 20th and 24th October at the Trafford Centre, although Gears of War will not be available for those dates.

After that, the tour heads to Newcastle, where it will occupy the Metro Centre between 26th and 29th October, before it spends three days at The Bullring in Birmingham on 3rd, 4th and 5th November.

From there it's up to Sheffield for the Meadowhall showing on 11th and 12th November, before it all gets carted to the West Quays in Southampton on 25th and 26th November. The tour will then conclude at Lakeside in London on 2nd and 3rd December. ...

Heres the rundown of all the new releases this week:

PlayStation2™:
Aoi no Tristia (The Best Price) JPN US$ 34.90
Captain Tsubasa JPN US$ 64.90
Dragon Ball Z Sparking! NEO KOR US$ 59.90
Gift: Prism JPN US$ 64.90
Gift: Prism [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 95.90
Gladiator: Road to Freedom Special Remix (Ertain the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Honoo no Takkyubin JPN US$ 59.90
Minna no Tennis / Everybody's Tennis KOR US$ 48.90
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner US US$ 59.90
Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Sokudoku Master JPN US$ 59.90
Tales of the Abyss US N/A
Wild Arms Advanced 3rd (PlayStation2 the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 20.90
Wild Arms: Alter Code F (PlayStation2 the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 20.90
Wild Arms: The 4th Detonator (PlayStation2 the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 20.90

Xbox360™:
NBA Live 07 ASIA US$ 39.90
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 ASIA US$ 39.90
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent ASIA US$ 44.90
Xbox Live Vision ASIA US$ 39.90

Sony PSP™:
GUN Showdown US US$ 39.90
PSP PlayStation Portable Bonus Pack (PSPJ-10004) JPN US$ 279.90
PSP PlayStation Portable Bonus Pack - Ceramic White (PSPJ-10005) JPN US$ 279.90
Pipo Saru Academia 2 (Chinese Version) (PSP the Best) ASIA US$ 24.90
Pipo Saru Academia 2 (PSP the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Planetarium Curator Ohira Takayuki Kanshuu: Home Star Portable JPN US$ 34.90
Puzzle Bobble Pocket (PSP the Best) ASIA US$ 24.90
Rain Wonder Trip KOR US$ 54.90
Tenchi no Mon 2: Busouden JPN US$ 48.90
Tenchi no Mon 2: Busouden (Chinese language Version) ASIA US$ 42.90

Nintendo DS™:
Card Pocket 3 Pocket Monsters US$ 5.90
Crash Boom Bang! US US$ 34.90
DS Stand (black) US$ 10.90
DS Stand (pink) US$ 10.90
Gekitou! Custom Robo JPN US$ 48.90
Hard Cover DS Lite (Hikozaru) US$ 6.90
Hard Cover DS Lite (Naetle) US$ 6.90
Hard Cover DS Lite (Pochama) US$ 6.90
Kodomo no Tame no Yomi Kikase: Ehon de Asobou 4-Kan JPN US$ 29.90
Kodomo no Tame no Yomi Kikase: Ehon de Asobou 5-Kan JPN US$ 29.90
Kodomo no Tame no Yomi Kikase: Ehon de Asobou 6-Kan JPN US$ 29.90
Mascot Touch Pen DS Lite (Pikachu & Hikozaru) US$ 6.90
Mascot Touch Pen DS Lite (Pikachu & Naetle) US$ 6.90
Mascot Touch Pen DS Lite (Pikachu & Pochama) US$ 6.90
Mobile Bag DS Lite Pokemon: Hikozaru (black) US$ 12.90
Mobile Bag DS Lite Pokemon: Naetoru (light blue) US$ 12.90
Mobile Bag DS Lite Pokemon: Pochama (red) US$ 12.90
Nintendogs: Dalmatian & Friends US US$ 39.90
Oto o Tsunagou! Gunpey Reverse JPN US$ 39.90
Stretch Mascot Touch Pen DS - Hikozaru US$ 5.99
Stretch Mascot Touch Pen DS - Naetle US$ 5.99
Stretch Mascot Touch Pen DS - Pochama US$ 5.99
The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning US US$ 34.90

Gameboy Advance™:
Naruto: Ninja Council 2 US US$ 39.90

PC Games:
The Secret Files: Tunguska ASIA US$ 29.90
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Dark Crusade ASIA US$ 32.90

Toys & Misc:
Aero Soarer R/C Remote Plane - No.05 Case Set Blue (A Band) US$ 27.90
Aero Soarer R/C Remote Plane - No.06 Case Set Yellow (B Band) US$ 27.90
Animal Crossing Figure Collection Gashapon US$ 1.99
Animal Crossing Houses, Figures or Accessories Gashapon US$ 3.99
Black Lagoon Non-Scale Action Figure - Series No.12 - Revy US$ 19.90
Choro Q Nightmare DQ-9 Hiace US$ 4.90
Choro Q Tinker Bell DQ-8 Mitsubishi US$ 4.90
Devilman Polystone Figure Collection No. 1 Sei No Gake US$ 34.90
Devilman Polystone Figure Collection No. 4 Hito Ka Kemono Ka US$ 19.90
Fine Scenery 1/9 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Kikaika-Hohei Mig 60 (Russia San) US$ 39.90
Fist of The North Star: Jagi Figure US$ 34.90
Fist of The North Star: Kenshiro Figure US$ 34.90
Fist of The North Star: Raoh Figure US$ 34.90
Fist of The North Star: Toki Figure US$ 34.90
Ikkitousen: 1/7 Scale Painted Figure - Untyou Kanu (Gothic Lolita Ver.) US$ 69.90
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Figure Collection - Combination Version US$ 5.90
Keroro Bank US$ 4.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion Halloween Mini Display Figure US$ 6.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion Non-Scale Action Figure - Series No.13 EVA-04 Production Model US$ 19.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion Voice Actress Speaking Figure - Asuka Sohryu Langley US$ 39.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion Voice Actress Speaking Figure - Rei Ayanami US$ 39.90
Nintendo DS Lite Software Collection 4 Keychain Gashapon US$ 2.99
Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Figure Chops Gashapon US$ 1.99
Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Water Pump Game Gashapon US$ 2.99
Nohohon Hello Kitty (Red) US$ 9.90
Resident Evil 10th Anniversary Action Figure: Chris Redfield N/A
Resident Evil 10th Anniversary Action Figure: Hunk N/A
Resident Evil 10th Anniversary Action Figure: Jill Valentine N/A
Resident Evil 10th Anniversary Action Figure: Zombie With Removable Limbs US$ ...

Via Yahoo

...

Via IGN

When the Eragon videogame releases next month it will feature the voices and likenesses of the stars from the upcoming movie on which it is based. Edward Speleers (who plays the title character Eragon), Sienna Guillory (Arya in Eragon, Jill Valentine in Resident Evil: Apocalypse), Garrett Hedlund (Murtagh in Eragon, Don Billingsley in Friday Night Lights), and Robert Carlyle (Durza in Eragon, Gaz in The Full Monty) will all be making the transition from film to binary code.

In the game, players will control Eragon and, atop his trusty dragon Saphira, ride into epic battles against an evil king's sinister forces. Eragon can overpower foes with some slick combos, utilize magic attacks, and can call in Brom or Murtagh at any point to give him a hand.

The Eragon videogame will ship November 14 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, PSP, Nintendo DS, mobile, and PC, followed by the feature film on December 15. ...