Codemasters has announced Heatseeker, an aerial combat game firing afterburners on Wii, PSP and PS2 in early 2007.

Strapping you into the cockpit of modern-day and near-future fighter jets, the title's very much an arcade experience with the publisher promising plenty of explosive destruction.

"If you like fast and furious action, and blowing everything in sight to bits, then Heatseeker is a dream come true. Expect the greatest military aircraft armed to the teeth with the latest hardware, big explosions, great smoke trails, and gung-ho heroics", enthused Heatseeker's senior producer Andrew Wensley.

Apparently, when wannabe fighter aces - you - takes to the skies, they'll face off against "a seemingly-impossible amount of airborne enemies" and be trying to prove aerial combat skills cut the mustard as they combat in the US, the Caribbean, across Antarctica and into the Far East.

Plus, beans have been spilled on the game's Impact Cam, which allows players to follow loosed missiles 'home' and observe the results of a strike from numerous angles.

Codemasters is developing Heatseeker in collaboration with IR Gurus, which brought us air combat game Heroes of the Pacific.

Speaking about the game, Ben Palmer, exec producer at Gurus, said, "The Heroes air combat engine is being advanced and getting armed to the teeth with the latest military hardware. It's set in a realistic now-time world, that's cohesive and believable, but the speed of play will feel like lightening".

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There's a fighter on your tail, but you've got an enemy in your sights – lock on! This is blow-you-away modern military air combat and you're in the pilot's seat


Delivering the fiercest collection of modern military jet fighters, Codemasters today announces Heatseeker, an original title that’s set to be the most explosive, destructive and exhilarating arcade aerial combat experience ever.

On target for take off in Q1 2007, Heatseeker will lead its attack on Wii™, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

Designed to be an incredible lock-on/shake-off experience, Heatseeker reinvents missile combat to give gamers a massive rush of destruction. Set to feature an incredible collection of current and near-future military fighter jets, Heatseeker’s arsenal includes the stealthy F-22™Raptor™, the classic F-15 Eagle, the cutting-edge F35® Lightening II®, and the aerodynamically advanced Russian SU-47 Berkut.

Says Andrew Wensley, Senior Producer for Heatseeker at Codemasters:
“If you like fast and furious action, and blowing everything in sight to bits, then Heatseeker is a dream come true. Expect the greatest military aircraft armed to the teeth with the latest hardware, big explosions, great smoke trails, and gung-ho heroics.”

Heatseeker is a joint development project between Codemasters and IR Gurus, the Australian studio behind the acclaimed historic air combat title, Heroes of the Pacific.

Says Ben Palmer, Executive Producer, IR Gurus
“The Heroes air combat engine is being advanced and getting armed to the teeth with the latest military hardware. It’s set in a realistic now-time world, that’s cohesive and believable, but the speed of play will feel like lightening”

Heatseeker will strap you into the pilot’s seat and deliver an exhilarating white-knuckle ride that’ll have you clutching the joypad as you engage in face-melting 6G turns and fight against a seemingly-impossible amount of airborne enemies.
And when you launch a strike, you’ll follow your missiles as they ruthlessly home in on their targets via the Impact Cam™. Delivering awesome cinematic 3rd-person camera cutaway scenes, the Impact Cam™ will reveal the results of your attack in all their devastating glory from all kinds of dynamic angles, complete with jaw-dropping explosions and smoke trails.

With missions across the US, down to the Caribbean, across Antarctica and into the Far East, it’ll be high-velocity combat all the way that’ll see you constantly switching from predator to prey as an enemy missiles lock on.

Throughout the game’s campaigns, you’ll be proving your right to fly with the best. Are you good enough to advance ahead of your fellow pilots and stay top? Can you throw your aircraft to the floor, twist and turn, and punch out counter measures as you pull as many Gs as necessary to out-manoeuvre the missile? Basically, are you good enough to stay alive?

Putting you right in the centre of the action, Heatseeker will deliver the latest fighters, current conflicts, black ops, grey and white missions and a constant stream of macho military radio traffic to build the atmosphere. Heatseeker will launch Q1 2007 for Wii™, PlayStation®2 system and the PSP® system. Aspiring fighter pilots can sign up for additional and exclusive briefings online at www.codemasters.com/heatseeker ...

Pinpoint have released a screenshot of their sound system for the DS Lite.

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Some new screenshots of the PSP Hifi from pinpoint has been released, the hifi retails for 199$

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Another press release:

Ironstone Partners and Winning Moves today announced a new licensing deal which grants exclusive Worldwide Video Game Rights to enable Ironstone to bring the highly successful Top Trumps brand to the video gaming market.

Top Trumps is a card-based game which gained popularity in the 1970 and 80’s and combines luck, strategy and subject knowledge in a game-concept that has hooked children for several generations. Packs start from £2.98 retail and sales in the UK hit £10 Million each year. The brand has enjoyed many years of success with its strong licensing programme which includes brands such as Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter and recently, Doctor Who.

Ironstone will develop games for the Sony’s PlayStation®2 (PS2), Nintendo DS™ and PC gaming platforms and will also work with Winning Moves to create proprietary Top Trumps characters.

“We are tremendously excited to be working with a brand with such fantastic heritage as Top Trumps”, commented Ironstone’s Managing Director, Paul Gouge, “our track record working with high-value concepts in the gaming space and our award winning studio Rockpool Games, will ensure a great success for Winning moves”.

Winning Moves, Head of Interactive, James Rankin added, “We’re delighted with how quickly Ironstone have understood our brand values and implemented them in such high quality products. We’re looking-forward to a long and successful relationship bringing many more video gaming products to market”.

For more information see: www.peppermintm.co.uk ...

Press release from Nintendo:

Super Mario World® 2: Yoshi's Island™ for the SNES® was revered as one of the greatest side-scrolling platformers ever made. The lighthearted art style and compelling game play defined a genre. Now, return to the colorful wilds of Yoshi's Island in a new platforming adventure for the Nintendo DS. Kamek has captured Baby Luigi, and now Yoshi™ and his band of babies must rescue him.

This time, Baby Mario™, Baby DK™, Baby Wario™ and Baby Peach are along for the ride. Each one gives Yoshi access to unique powers: While they cling to his back, Baby Mario gives Yoshi speed, Baby DK gives him strength, Baby Peach gives him the ability to fly and Baby Wario gives him magnetism.
All of Yoshi's classic abilities are on full display. Players gobble enemies and either spit them out immediately, or turn them into eggs that they can throw at items and enemies. Pound the ground to flatten whatever's underneath, and flutter jump to traverse precarious heights. In certain areas, Yoshi can even morph into special vehicles.
Thanks to the power of the Nintendo DS, all of the lush vistas and perilous paths of Yoshi's Island span two screens. Players hit objects on the top screen while using the touch screen, and tackle super-tall enemies that fill both screens.
Hidden in every level are flowers, stars, red coins and character coins, so even after players finish the game, the challenge continues.

Game storyline: A mysterious floating castle has suddenly appeared over peaceful Yoshi's Island. Soon after its arrival, kids begin to disappear. Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Baby Wario and Baby DK manage to avoid being kidnapped, but Baby Luigi isn't so lucky. Now Yoshi and the four young superstars and must set out on a wild and colorful quest to rescue the kids and investigate the ominous castle hovering overhead.

Characters: Yoshi, Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Baby DK, Baby Wario, Baby Luigi, Bowser, Kamek.

How to progress through the game: Players run, glide, climb and fight your way through five levels as Yoshi, gobbling up enemies as they go. As they play through different levels, different babies will join the party. Depending on the baby on his back, Yoshi can adopt different abilities. The main game play comes from using different babies' abilities to defeat foes and advance past obstacles. Each level is also stuffed with hidden items like stars, red coins and character coins, which give players bonuses when they collect them.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Yoshi returns with all the abilities we know and love: He can swallow enemies, turn them into eggs, throw eggs and flutter jump. However, depending on the baby he's carrying, he also adopts new abilities. Baby Mario gives Yoshi the power of speed, while Baby DK gives him strength and the ability to climb vines. Baby Peach lets Yoshi float, and Baby Wario's giant magnet grabs metal items like coins.

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Nintendo has released some charactar art for the Upcoming Yoshis Island for DS

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Weltall has released a new version of his cheat device, heres whats new:


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Heres an excerpt:

Last year, Bandai localized Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop and released it to the US shores after it did absolute gangbusters in the Japanese market. Though they certainly love those virtual pets in Japan more than they do in this neck of the woods, Tamagotchi Connection did pretty darn well stateside, so much so that the company is currently working on bringing its sequel to the Nintendo DS this Christmas. Namco Bandai sent over an early version of the product so we can see where these critters are going for Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2.

Anyone who is familiar with the original game will find themselves right at home in Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2. The look, sound, and gameplay feel of the original has been extended by development team Dimps to incorporate different mini-game challenges without straying from the original Nana-on-sha design. Where the previous game revolved around your chosen Tamagotchi partner's run-in with his father to build up all the shops, in this one, you're performing tasks to impress the Princess, who will in turn upgrade the shop you're working in...if you manage to flatter her with your service, of course.

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