Future has today announced that its two officially licensed Xbox magazines will merge into one title. News, previews and reviews for the original Xbox console will now feature in Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine.

Following the sales success of Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox 360 since it launched last November – consumer interest is now focussed across two platforms. As a result, the final standalone issue of Official Xbox Magazine, goes on sale Thursday 28th September.

Bowing out with issue 61, Future’s Official Xbox Magazine launched in March 2002 and has sold over 4.1 million copies in total. Its successor, Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine launched in November 2005 and achieved a debut ABC of 42,680. Circulation for the new magazine is currently growing at a faster rate than Future's original Xbox magazine did in its launch year.

Group Publisher for Future’s London Entertainment portfolio, James Ashton-Tyler said:

“Official Xbox Magazine has had an enormously successful run. The rapid success of the Xbox 360 means that readers are now interested in two Xbox formats. By rolling in coverage of Xbox games into our next-generation title, we can cover both consoles and provide Xbox gamers with a comprehensive Official magazine.”

Issue 13 of Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine also goes on sale Thursday 28th September, with a coverprice of £5.99. ...

If you were wondering just how big Sony's game development studios have gotten in the 10+ years since the release of the original PlayStation, you only need to hear this bit of news. Phil Harrison, head of Sony Worldwide Studios, revealed to Japanese site Famitsu.com today that the company's vast array of international studios now has around 190 titles in development for the PlayStaion 3, PlayStation 2, PSP and other systems.

That's a whole lot of games, especially considering how many games currently bear the Sony Computer Entertainment name on release charts in the likes of Famitsu.

Of the 190 titles, Harrison disclosed that 100 are for the PlayStation 3. Sony's focus has clearly shifted to the new generation of gaming.

Famitsu also asked Harrison to share the World Studios title that he most recommends. Harrison cited Resistance as a game that's getting lots of attention in the US and European markets. He also noted that Level 5's White Knight Story is getting attention throughout the world.

The Famitsu interviewer mentioned a personal interest in Sony's mysterious Afrika title. To this, Harrison responded, "Afrika is a perfect example of a game that expresses the crossing point of real and virtual."

We're still not sure what the game is all about, but we're getting more and more excited. ...

News From Play Asia

The Tokyo Game Show is known as the world's largest game and entertainment event. Taking place once in a year, the TGS 2006 is currently held under the theme "New Excitement. New Sensations. A New Generation.", apparently an allusion to the next generation game console hardware (Wii™ and PS3™).

A total of 143 exhibitors in 1,710 exhibit spaces (compared to 131 in 1,433 booths from last year) are making this tenth anniversary event the largest TGS ever. Game software companies from all around the world (including USA, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and of course Japan) are showing new titles for all existing and shortly upcoming gaming platforms as well as for the (Japanese) mobile phone market.

Just like the last 3 years, we have once again attended today's first press & business day of the show and have taken the effort to compile a quick newssheet directly from our hotel room. As there's plenty of excellent coverage available on most of anyone's favorite video gaming news site, we are dedicating our news post to a very few topics only, combined with a number of videos and of course lots of pictures.

PlayStation3™ 20GB model price update, HDMI clarification, official videos & classic game download

Sony has announced a price drop of the Japanese 20GB model from JPY 59,800 (approx. USD 513 / EUR 400) to JPY 49,800 (approx. USD 429 / EUR 335). The 60GB model price remains as an open price model, targeted at JPY 62,790 (approx. USD 539 / EUR 421). Further, Sony has clarified that both PS3™ hardware models will be equipped with HDMI as standard.


Sony Press Release (Japanese)

At the same time, Sony also announced a download service for Mega Drive and PC-Engine classics, similar to Nintendo's Virtual Game concept available for Wii™. Pricing as well as lineup is yet to be confirmed. Next to PlayStation™ game download, Sony also plans to offer PlayStation2™ software for download at a later time.

Official video downloads of some upcoming PlayStation3™ releases:

Genji
Resistance: Fall of Man
Gran Turismo HD
Heavenly Sword
Monster Kingdom Unknown Realms
Lair
Warhawk
Everybody's Golf 5 / Minna no Golf 5
Afrika
White Knight Story / Shirokishi]
Metal Gear Solid 4
Virtua Fighter 5
Armored Core 4
Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou Sega Golf Club

TGS without Nintendo (as usual) & a few new Wii™ video downloads

Just like in previous years, Nintendo has also not been present on the TGS this year, consequently there were not many Nintendo™ Wii related news to report. Nintendo's new console was not playable by visitors on any booth we have seen.

Some new official video downloads by Sega have however been made public:

Sonic and the Secret Rings
Sonic and the Secret Rings Interview
Super Monkey Ball: Uki Uki Party Daishuugou
Super Monkey Ball: Uki Uki Party Daishuugou Interview
Bleach
Bleach Interview

New Naruto game coming for Nintendo™ DS and Nintendo™ Wii

Two new interesting Naruto games have been displayed on TakaraTomy's booth. Firstly, there's finally going to be a cel-shaded Naruto fighting game for Nintendo™ DS, reminding us a bit about the extremely popular Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen (Naruto: Clash of Ninja in the US) GameCube™ series and secondly Naruto will make its debut on the upcoming Nintendo™ Wii.

Unfortunately, neither of the two new titles was playable at TGS, but we have taken a couple of shots from the booth itself, giving all Naruto fans out there a very first small impression.



Gallery 1 - 222 pictures from the Tokyo Game Show 2006

Our first gallery contains 222 pictures from the Tokyo Game Show 2006. Dominant has been the PlayStation3™ coverage on this year's show.



Gallery 2 - 135 booth babe pictures

Last but not least, not to be missed on any Tokyo Game Show are pictures of the astonishing booth babes.



Check the lot out at Play-Asia.com - Your One-Stop-Shop for Asian Entertainment ...

To the right of a long wall of playable PS3 demos (and a few trailers running on PS3s), Sony had on hand two PlayStation 3 units encased in cylindrical glass. Unlike previous viewings, this time Sony showed off what we presume is the final case design for its PS3 games.

The two cases shown were for Grand Turismo HD and Heavenly Sword. The case designs were identical to what IGN reported about a few weeks back. However, both their mockup and our my speculation were off regarding the outside shell, which is translucent and features only a tiny Blu-ray engraving in the top-left corner of the box.

Screens Via Comments ...

Via Joystiq

Your next Panzer Dragoon Orta fix might be coming from Eragon, based on the book and movie of the same name. According to Vivendi Games producer Tim Ramage, you'll spend one third of the game engaged in glorious aerial combat on the back of your dragon, Saphira. Unfortunately, there are the other two thirds of the game, which at this point appear to be standard third person combat and puzzle-solving fare. GameTrailers has some in-depth gameplay vids and interviews.

Eragon will be shipping this holiday season on every platform except the Wii and PS3, and fans of Chistopher Paolini's bestselling novel also have the film to look forward to in December. ...

Yesterday at Sony's TGS 06 conference, Ken Kutaragi announced that the Playstation 3 will allow you to download PC Engine and Genesis titles to your PS3.

You know, I'm really tempted to knock Sony for this one as another half-hearted grab at ticking off a feature on another console. But, really, every other console is now supporting downloads of retro games. Xbox Live's Arcade titles have predominantly been arcade ports — right now, their library of retro games looks weakest. Nintendo Wii, of course, will have the Virtual Console, which will offer a huge number of Nintendo and Sega titles.

If you like retro games and are some how morally opposed to emulation, this is all great news. It's hard to fault a company for offering it, even if you are suspicious of the quick slide into microtransactions. Then again, we haven't heard the price yet on these titles from Mr. Ken "Gran Turismo HD Will Cost $1,000" Kutaragi. ...

During tonight's little corporate get-together, Phil H. gathered the press types around one of the 1080p displays to let us in on some secrets. He walked us through the Cross Media Bar to show off the user interface.

Phil demoed the photo viewing capabilities of the PS3, displaying high resolution photos, showing off the transitions, letting us have an intimate look at some anonymous Sony employee's cat. He walked us through nearly all of the menu picks—3D music visualization, texting friends, video and voice chat—he burned through them all with lightning speed.

One surprise was that Phil gave us a preview of the embedded PS3 Web browser, shipped default with every unit. Users will be able to quickly switch through multiple windows with ease and at 1080p those Web pages should be easy as pie to read. Rightly so, as this will be the interface for purchasing through the Sony network.

Oh, right. Speaking of 1080p, Phil confirmed that multiple games (Ridge Racer 7, Gran Turismo HD, Virtua Tennis 3, NBA, and Mobile Suit Gundam: Target In Sight) at the show were running at both "true" HD resolution and at 60 frames per second. He then rubbed that accomplishment in the face of Sony's distinguished competition, who apparently said this feat couldn't be done. ...

That's the name of the Samurai Spirits compilation SNK Playmore is developing for its Neo-Geo Online Collection for the PS2. It'll include 6 titles in the series (presumably all the episodes born on the MVS), according to Famitsu. The already announced World Heroes compilation will get the name 'World Heroes Gorgeous' and will include the full series, while rumors of a Fuu-Un Mokushiroku series pack [Savage Reign and Kizuna Encounter in the West] are still in the air. Famitsu also shows us the very first screen of Doki Doki Majo Saiban (Dengeki Online has the second one), one of those games from the new batch of non-action titles for the DS from the company, which we mentioned here. Finally, SNK Playmore has just confirmed brand-new graphics for The King of Fighters XII. That implies 'true hi-res' sprites, if you ask us. ...

Apart from LCD TV's and other gizmos Panasonic even makes toilet seats in Japan and here is their latest offering the DL-GWN range of advanced toilet seats. The seat has a sensor and upon detecting presence lights up and illuminiates a bulls eye in the water. The main use of the light is after a night of heavy partying and so those middle night breaks where if you get a smelly toilet if you go haywire. The light also warms the seat and helps in cleaning the seat. In Japan the water used for washing and bathing is recycled for flushing. The water is boiled and used to clean the seat automatically after use.

Screen Via Comments ...