Article from Lik Sang

One noodle doesn't make a spaghetti dish. Non-authentic Italian sayings aside, Nintendo sure had all their ravioli together when revisiting one of the greatest 2D platformers that ever brought Jump'n Run bliss to gamers: Super Mario Bros. More than 20 years after its initial release, the series returns in all its glory to the Nintendo DS: revamped, reimagined and visually all-new: as Princess Peach got snatched away by Bowser and Mushroom Kingdom's equivalent of Mini-Me, Bowser Jr., only the Mario Bros. can rescue the royal cutie from her evil captors. Run, jump and stomp your way through diverse, bubble-gum-colored environments and challenges extreme, visiting new worlds, using new power-ups and sporting new moves! Grab a Mega Mushroom and grow to incredible proportions or smash through your enemies in a blue Koopa shell. Wireless Multiplayer and Touch Screen goodies (e.g. a huge number of minigames) inclusive. It's the first new 2D Mario platformer since Super Mario World has arrived, and boy, we are so ready for its upcoming release on May 15.



Preorders for New Super Mario Bros. on NDS are welcome for only US$ 44.90 (shipped!). The good thing is that, thanks to the region-free capability of the Nintendo DS, New Super Mario Bros. will work on any NDS system, wherever you might have originally bought it. That holds true for all Nintendo DS games. Importing couldn't be easier.



New Worlds to explore...

Valentine's day romance sure was ruined, as Princess Peach needs a rescue once more. Beautiful 2D backdrops await, as you platform through raging volcanoes, to tropical islands and over snowcapped peaks. The Mushroom Kingdom never was dressed up prettier. There are eight all-new worlds in New Super Mario Bros., each filled with extra levels, hidden paths and secrets galore. While it's possible to complete the game without visiting every world, you'll be faced with tracking down many alternate exits to get to see every nook and cranny in this adorable title. Developers at Nintendo have kept with the look and play of the original Super Mario Bros., with hidden coin rooms down in specific green pipes for example. Visually, 3D characters (which mean much smoother animation) are put in front of the 2D environments. Here, the lively scenery really plays out: moving and tilting platforms, swinging ropes etc. All has a very coherent brilliance to it, a perfect blend of traditional level design with an up-to-date graphical overhaul

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Article from Lik Sang

ComfortStylus is a bender. No, British readers, I don't mean that ComfortStylus is gay, I am saying it is flexible at mercy. Designed to be used with PDAs or any other touchscreen appliance, the ComfortStylus gets brilliant, when used for gaming purposes, either with the Nintendo DS or with the recent DS Lite. Especially since the latter is no longer including that little thumbthing on the top of the lanyard strap. The whole point of having a flexible Stylus is that you can attach it around your thumb or another finger. After spending a couple of minutes customizing the perfect position (so that you can press all buttons as well as the touchscreen with optimal ease), it truly enhances gameplay, especially in situations during which seconds matter or in a game like Metroid Prime Hunters. No more stylus grabbing at the last minute, no more stylus dropping in the middle of a crucial battle. Changing hands (literally) for US$ 7.95 only, the ComfortStylus is a bargain. Lik Sang recommends it to all serious NDS gamers out there.



Please note that the ComfortStylus is made out of very resistant material, so that it will last for an extremely long time if you are reasonably cautious when playing around with it. Still, naturally, if you really try your best efforts to break it, chances are you will eventually succeed. It required the IGN Gear crew quite a bit of energy to make that happen though: check out the IGN review of the ComfortStylus.

While about replacement styluses for Nintendo DS, third-party manufacturers are now offering their traditional 2-Stylus Packs in a wide range of colors. There are enough variations to match with any Nintendo DS flavor that has been released to date. All 2-Packs retail for US$ 3.95, bulk discounts are available for quantity orders. All of these sticks are designed for the original standard model of the Nintendo DS and fit with the size of the stylusholder in this model only. They do not fit with the new stylusholder in the Nintendo DS Lite, but we have received word from the maker that DS Lite models were in the works and should be available in the next couple of weeks. ...

Via Gamespot

In a conference call following the release of Activision's earnings, CEO of publishing Mike Griffith further delved into the company's future plans. He described the attitude for the company's fiscal 2007 (April 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007) year as "cautious," but sees the following 12 months as a time when the industry will really take off, as evidenced by the projection of $1.6 billion in revenue for that time period.

Activision is planning on releasing five PlayStation Portable games, four Xbox 360 games, and three PlayStation 3 launch titles for this fiscal year and will also contribute three launch titles for the Wii. Gamers can expect more Activision support for the Wii than was given to the GameCube, according to one executive. No specific titles were mentioned.

This doesn't necessarily mean that the games will be available day one of both the Wii and PS3. Later on in the call, one executive explained that the games would be out "in very near proximity to the hardware launch." Of course, Activision already has experience releasing a trifecta of next-gen titles with a console launch. The company had Gun, Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, and Call of Duty 2 available for the Xbox 360's first day on the market.

The Tony Hawk franchise will get the same dual-release strategy that was given to the Call of Duty franchise in Call of Duty 2 (Xbox 360, PC) and Call of Duty: Big Red One (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube). A "traditional" Tony Hawk game aimed at the hardcore Tony Hawk audience will be released, as will Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, "a frenzied downhill racing game and new direction for the Tony Hawk franchise," aimed at more casual gamers.

The company's 2008 fiscal year is when Activision thinks the market will come around again, and has planned 50 percent more titles scheduled for launch at that time than in fiscal year '07. Games based on the next Shrek and Spider-Man films, both set to hit theaters in May 2007, will lead off the year, with new editions of Call of Duty, Tony Hawk, and X-Men games in the pipeline, as well as games based on DreamWorks' Bee Movie and Transformers movies. ...

Via Gamespot

Sony's HD era of Blu-ray discs will be ushered in a month late, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The trade paper is reporting today that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has delayed its first batch of eight titles from the previously announced May 23 release date back to June 20.

The article quotes Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president Benjamin Feingold as saying the delay came at the request of the studio's retail and hardware partners, who wanted a more coordinated launch for the format. The new date means the discs will hit store shelves much closer to the first commercially available Blu-ray player, a Samsung model that isn't expected in stores until June 25.

Video Business Online has previously reported that the first wave of Blu-ray releases from Lionsgate, which were also originally scheduled for May 23, have been moved back to a June 27 release. ...

Via Eurogamer

THQ's joined the growing list of publishers to announce its line-up for E3 - and there's a lot to consider in virtually every category.

Of the next-gen systems, Xbox 360 is best represented - with Saints Row, MotoGP '06 and GTR lining up exclusively, while a hatful of multiformat titles touch on Microsoft's new turf, including Frontlines: Fuel of War (also PS3/PC), The Sopranos (also PS2), WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 (also PS3/PS2/PSP).

THQ's PC line-up is also quite strong. Apart from the aforementioned Frontlines, there's Supreme Commander, Company of Heroes, Titan Quest and Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War - Dark Crusade.

Elsewhere, we'll have a chance to see Destroy All Humans! 2 (PS2/Xbox), Juiced: Eliminator (PSP), and a variety of other titles including Monster House (PS2/Cube/GBA/DS), Avatar: The Last Airbender (all formats except PS3/X360) and THQ's Bratz, Alex Rider, Barnyard, (Pixar) Cars and SpongeBob SquarePants game, several of which will be appearing on Nintendo Wii as well as all the usual formats. ...

via cvg

Anyone who has always wanted to put Darth Vader's head on Yoda's body and serve up some 720p Jedi justice - and we know you're out there - will be pleased to hear that Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is officially heading to the Xbox 360.

This news comes as part of info on a new campaign to re-paint the world's shops in Star Wars hue in the autumn, with a new DVD release initiative (involving the digitally restored and re-mastered versions of the first three Star Wars movies being packaged with the original theatrical release versions) running alongside the launch of the Lego Star Wars sequel.

In case you haven't been paying attention, the Lego Star Wars sequel takes us back to the care-free days of the original Star Wars trilogy, when Luke was a strapping young lad and Obi-Wan Kenobi was popping down the post office to collect his Jedi pension. The release of Lego Star Wars II on Xbox 360 marks the first ever next-gen Star Wars game; but somehow we get the feeling there's many more to come.

Just how good will those Lego bricks look in HD glory? ...

Via CVG

Expo PS2 and PSP games revealed - not one single slither of a sausage regarding PS3 stuff though

While we all wait with bated breath for some kind of tangible information on the forthcoming PS3 (presumably all unravelling at Sony's big press jamboree this coming Monday), the company has unveiled its E3 line-up for PS2 and PSP.

It's all fairly as-expected with showings for high-profile titles like God of War II, SOCOM PSP, Gangs of London and LocoRoco - most of which we've seen in some guise or other already. Quite whether this means there'll be no monster revelations for Sony's existing consoles is unclear - let's be honest though, it'd take something pretty astonishing to make any kind of audible squeal against PS3's thunder.

Here's what Sony's announced so far:

ATV Offroad Fury 4 (PS2)
Gangs of London (PSP)
God of War II (PS2)
Killzone: Liberation (PSP)
Lemmings (PSP)
LocoRoco (PSP)
NBA '07 (PS2 & PSP)
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PSP)
Rogue Galaxy (PS2)
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 (PSP)
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault (PS2)
World Tour Soccer '06 (PSP)

We'll be screaming round the show floor from Wednesday next week, with ne'er a pause for breath or tinkle. You can expect to hear much more on Sony's line-up as things get underway, so keep your eyes locked in this direction for all the latest. ...

Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR), one of the world's most recognized brands, today announced the complete line-up of video games the Company will showcase during Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the video game industry's largest trade show and exhibition in Los Angeles, May 10-12. The Company's titles range in genres and are from some of the world's best-known franchises including Dragon Ball Z®, Test Drive® Unlimited, Alone in the Dark, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®. The Company is charging forward with a robust line-up of next-generation console and handheld games with a focus on innovative and compelling gameplay.

"As the Atari brand has withstood the test of time, so does the appeal of many of our games and franchises," said Atari, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Bruno Bonnell. "We continue to reach and surpass milestones, such as the ten- millionth mark of Dragon Ball Z game sales, and redefining genres we originated, such as Alone in the Dark's horror survival and Test Drive Unlimited's Massively Open Online Racing (M.O.O.R.TM). Atari continues to move forward and seek out groundbreaking, imaginative and entertaining properties like the underground based, street smart HOT PXL. Evident as part of our E3 line-up, these and other games are all part of the Company's evolution and continued focus on gameplay."

Following is the list of Atari's products that will be showcased at E3 this year. The Atari booth is located at Petree Hall #4003:

Alone in the Dark (Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows platform)

The original Alone in the Dark is the video game that launched horror survival gaming and set the standard within the genre. The next-generation of Alone in the Dark returns with a heart-stopping survival experience realized through the use of state-of-the-art real-time physics and unprecedented environmental interaction. Delivering an exhilarating action-orientated experience within a highly detailed, open environment, Alone in the Dark is set to take the lead for innovation and excellence within the genre. Alone in the Dark is in development by Eden Games, the second largest game development studio in France and a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA.

Arthur and the Minimoys (PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) system, Nintendo DSTM, Game Boy® Advance and Windows)

Directly inspired by world famous film director and writer Luc Besson's upcoming animated film of the same name, the Arthur and the Minimoys* game will follow the film's storyline and feature eye-popping graphics and technical innovations. The game allows players to relive the fantastic adventure of young Arthur and his two pals, princess Selenia and her brother Betameche, in their mission to save the Minimoys' world from destruction. Set to time with The Weinstein Company theatrical release of the movie in North America, Arthur and the Minimoys game is currently in development by Lyon-and Paris-based Etranges Libellules, creator of several successful animated games, including Asterix XXL and Kirikou. The Nintendo DS game is being developed by Dreamon, and the Nintendo Game Boy Advance version by Mystic.

BattleZone (PSP system)

BattleZone is the modern update to the 1980 classic arcade game. Set in futuristic international military environments, BattleZone puts players in control of highly maneuverable hover tanks, challenging them in close combat scenarios against their rivals with relentless onslaughts of quick, action- oriented battles. BattleZone for the PSP system is being developed by Paradigm Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®: TacticsTM (PSP system)

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®: TacticsTM is the first time the highly-coveted D&D® license has ever graced a next-generation portable system. D&D®: Tactics* authentically utilizes the D&D 3.5 rule-set created by Wizards of the Coast and allows players to take a party of six adventurers into a wide variety of dangerous environments to experience deep and exciting turn-based action. In development by Kuju Entertainment, D&D: Tactics will take full advantage of the PSP system's wireless capability and offer gamers a multiplayer mode.

Dragon Ball Z®: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (PlayStation®2 and Nintendo Wii)

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is the sequel to Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi, the top-selling DBZ game of 2005. Combining action, fighting and light role-playing game (RPG) elements, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 will send players into a rich story mode that spans the entire Dragon Ball®, DBZ, and Dragon Ball GT® series. The game takes the acrobatic and intense 3D flying and fighting dynamic made popular in last year's hit to a whole new level with over 100 playable characters, 15 vast and vibrant 3D destructible environments, and nine different game modes, including intense single and multiplayer battles. Dragon Ball ...

SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced their title lineup to be featured at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2006. SEGA will feature a broad variety of titles developed for next-generation consoles including the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. In addition, SEGA continues its strong support of PC, current consoles and handheld platforms including the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, and the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system. SEGA's booth will be located in South Hall, #946, Los Angeles Convention Center.

SEGA will feature several key titles in its E3 2006 lineup. Sonic celebrates his 15th anniversary by blazing his way onto the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles with his first adventure set in the human world in Sonic the Hedgehog. Featuring interactive 3D environments and a large cast of returning and new characters, get ready for the reinvention of Sonic The Hedgehog, in his most intense, high velocity escapade to date. Full Auto 2: Battlelines is the next generation of combat-racing, exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3. Players must use explosive weapons, high-speed vehicles and skillful demolition of the environment to defeat their opponents and claim the city in high-tempo single-player and multiplayer modes. Virtua Tennis 3 is the return of the Virtua Tennis series with enhanced photo-realistic graphics and advanced player animations that perfectly match the behavior and mannerisms of individual professional athletes. The game will also feature a brand new host of popular mini-games characteristic of the franchise. Medieval II: Total War is the latest game in the award-winning and critically acclaimed Total War series. Medieval II: Total War is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2005's Strategy Game of the Year – Rome: Total War. Coming to the PC, Medieval II is a visually stunning game that spans four and half centuries of the most turbulent and bloody era of Western history, encompassing the golden age of chivalry, the Crusades, the proliferation of gunpowder, the rise of professional armies, the Renaissance and the discovery of America.

"SEGA's mission is to be a premier publisher of a diverse array of great games for the next-generation systems," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "Our 2006 E3 line-up is but a glimpse of the great products in store from SEGA."

SEGA continues to fully support handheld and current-generation users with quality titles including Sonic Rivals (PSP), Yakuza (PS2), and Phantasy Star Universe (PS2, PC, Xbox 360).

SEGA's lineup of entertainment games to be featured at E3 includes, but is not limited to, the titles listed below. SEGA continues its Road to E3 new title announcements up to the first day of E3. For screenshots and artwork visit the official SEGA E3 Web Site at: www.sega.com/e3.

Chromehounds (Xbox 360) - Release: Summer 2006
Chromehounds brings squad-based multiplayer mech combat exclusively to the Xbox 360 for the first time ever. The war of the future has begun with three superpower nations fighting for world domination. Commanding fully customizable giant metal war machines called "Hounds", players must manage their tower of heavy artillery through giant war zones while engaging in cooperative squad-based tactics, and fighting intense battles against other real-time players via Xbox Live.

The Club (Working title, PS3, 360) - Release: Summer 2007
The Club is a loosely organized and highly illegal underground entity. The Club is a meeting ground for those seeking the ultimate in vicarious thrills, and those who want to watch them. Players have been entered into the arena and must fight for survival against the odds. Set in a variety of unusual and evocative locations scattered across the globe, players will yield high-powered weaponry in a bid to earn their escape. The first task is to survive, but players must kill according to specific rules - quickly, relentlessly and with style. Kill or be killed, stand still and it's death!

Full Auto 2: Battlelines (PS3) - Release: November 2006
Full Auto 2: Battlelines is the next generation of combat-racing, exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3. The sequel to the award-winning Full Auto, Full Auto 2: Battlelines puts high-speed vehicles outfitted with weapons and armor into fully realized and fully destructible urban street environments. Strategically use destruction to win races as well as leave massive devastation in your wake. Players can destroy the environment to dynamically change track conditions to block competitors, open new paths, or crush opponents with falling debris caused by well-timed missiles. Full Auto 2: Battlelines also introduces a new Arena Mode featuring team play and six different levels, each specifically designed for a unique type of multiplayer car combat.

Medieval II: Total War (PC) - Release: November 2006
Medieval II: Total War is the latest game in the ...