Via Spong

It’s being reported this morning that SEGA has been courting controversy in Japan, after releasing a promo T-shirt featuring Hitler for its World War 2 game, Advanced Dai Sen Ryaku.

SEGA is not merely giving these away as promo items either, but even more surprisingly, is selling them. The t-shirt features Hitler alongside Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill, and Mussolini.

The item is for sale in the company's Japanese online store. If you enjoy shocking everybody that you meet, then you might want to buy one.

Whatever next? SPOnG wonders what the Japanese reaction would be if a western game company were to use pictures of the Hiroshima-busting bomb Enola Gay in its game marketing materials. We suspect there would be an similar reaction to that of SEGA’s use of European genocidal fascists to sell more budget PS2 war games in Japan.

We are not sure. Perhaps we are being overly sensitive, and this T-shirt is actually going to be a must-have E3 item. Though we doubt it. ...

Via Gizmodo

The makers of everybody’s favorite iPod-compatable alarm clock, the iHome, has released a new iPod docking station designed to accentuate the flair of your kitchen. The iHome iH36W is your standard alarm clock chock full of alarm clock features, such as FM radio, TV audio and those crazy weather bulletin channels, but with the added bonus of being able to dock onto an iPod.

The difference between the iH36 and its older brethren is that the iH36 is designed to be installed under a cabinet, making it perfect for kitchens and the like. Of course, the iPod charges while it’s plugged in. To top it all off, there’s even a motorized drawer that hides the iPod so as not to ruin the aesthetic of your carefully-designed kitchen. The iHome iH36, which is also compatible with the oft-neglected Shuffle, runs $199.99. ...

Via Gamesradar

It is becoming more and more likely that the nunchaku part of the Wii controller will have a built in accelerometer, allowing it to detect motion, as now an EA chief has let slip that this capability will play a major part in the Wii version of American Football game Madden.

Last week there was growing speculation that the nunchaku not only had an analogue stick and trigger switches but also had motion sensor capabilities, similar to the main wand part of the controller, but there was no official confirmation of this.

Now EA Canada's senior vice president and group studio general manager, John Schappert, has let slip in an online interview that tilting the nunchaku part of the controller from left to right will allow players with the ball to dodge or "juke" out of the way of the opposition tacklers during EA's Wii Madden game.

When asked specifically about the nunchaku, Schappert said it will "use the trigger buttons, and it does use the accelerometer in the unit for juking as well".

He also stated that once the pass from a quarterback has been made, and the ball is in the hands of the receiver, the control of the game switches to the nunchaku unit: "when you receive the ball, you run with the analogue stick on the nunchaku and, if you want to juke, you use the nunchaku to gesture it; if you want to stiff-arm, you use the wand."

While there is still no official confirmation from Nintendo about the nunchaku's inbuilt accelerometer, we've less than a week before Nintendo's pre-E3 press conference where we can expect all Wii's secrets to be revealed. ...

via Gamesradar

Microsoft has temporarily closed Xbox Live, Xbox.com and its forums for a day of maintenance.

From 10am today (UK time) until midnight tonight all of the servers across the globe will be shut for a major overhaul. During this downtime, Bill's boys in white coats are expected to upgrade the service to give Xbox 360 owners the ability to download video and clips direct from E3.

Which means until 00:01 on Wednesday morning when the servers are turned back on, you'll have to go cold turkey on Geometry Wars. Don't worry, you'll make it. ...

via Eurogamer

Ubisoft's set to publish From Software's Xbox 360 RPG Enchant Arm in Europe and the US this summer, the publisher's announced.

It'll be called Enchanted Arms here - a bit of a change from its rather untypable Japanese moniker "[eM] -eNCHANT arM-".

For those who haven't been keeping up, Enchanted Arms is a turn-based RPG in which the player adopts the mantle of an enchanter-in-training, controlling more than 75 creatures over the course of his quest.

Ubisoft's promising more than "50 hours" of gameplay, and the game includes a full hour of anime-style cut-scenes too.

And of course it's worth noting that it's yet another game from Ubisoft's infamous leaked release schedule - denied at the time, but looking increasingly genuine.

Also on the schedule were a new Brothers In Arms game (two in fact - so far Ubi's announced one), some new Tom Clancy games (with a new Rainbow Six already announced), and Naruto for Xbox 360, which Ubisoft unveiled just recently. Rayman 4 also appeared on the list.

Indeed, it's looking more like Ubisoft denied the schedule because of the games it couldn't confirm - like a new Lumines for PSP and PS2, which we now know that Buena Vista will be handling. ...

via CVG

According to our resident racing game expert, developer SimBin's GTR on PC was the finest and most realistic realisation of the motor sport on the platform ever. Rejoice then, ye hardcore racing game fans with an Xbox 360 nestled under the telly, because THQ and SimBin are wheeling GTR onto Microsoft's next-gen console. Vroom, vroom...

GTR is roaring off the 360 start grid courtesy of a multi-title deal thing struck between THQ and SimBin. Not a whole lot has been said about the next-gen GTR yet, but we've been told to expect a game that "sets new standards for racing realism on console". GTR features all the cars, drivers and tracks from two full FIA GT Championships and is directed by professional racing driver and former FIA GT Team Owner, Henrik Roos.

Said Roos about GTR on 360: "SimBin has built a reputation for delivering cutting edge technology, unmatched atmosphere and white-knuckle realism in our racing games. With GTR for Xbox 360 we're developing a title that is not only a truly authentic racing game, but also a challenging, realistic and entertaining game that will be easy to learn but tough to master. In other words - do it for real!" ...

Via CVG

As next week's E3 show draws even closer, the Revolution, erm, Wii, roster, is growing larger by the day. Added to the Wii line-up Metal Slug Anthology, which was confirmed to be Wii-bound in an online interview with developer SNK.

Speaking to IGN, SNK Playmore president Ben Herman divulged the first details on Metal Slug Anthology and talked all things Wii. "Fans worldwide have been looking forward to our return to Nintendo platforms and what better way then to bring our complete Metal Slug arcade collection to Wii," said Herman. "Our fans have demanded that we support Nintendo platforms. Let the celebration begin."

Before you follow Mr. Herman's orders and get the Cliff Richard CDs out, cast your eyes over the exciting Metal Slug Anthology line-up, which includes Metal Slug, Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug X and all the other 'Slug sequels up to the fifth instalment. The Metal Slug collection is also slated for PSP, although Herman promised that in the Wii version the wand-controller will be used "in a new and unique way that enhances the gameplay."

Look out next week for more Metal Slug Anthology coverage direct from Nintendo's Wii booth. We promise it'll stop sounding funny eventually. ...

via CVG

As the fog of uncertainty slowly lifts on Nintendo's next-gen console, more and more deliciously flavoursome droplets of Wii continue to spill into our expectant maws - and Uncle Reggie Fils-Aime's just gone and fired another one from the hip.

Speaking at the Nintendo World Store in New York City last week, Friday April 28, the vii pii of sales and marketing riiviiled that we can expect to sii the Wii's wand put to use in a brand new driving game, finally answering the question many gamers have been asking since the controller's unveiling at TGS last year.

"I'm going to give one little secret," Fils-Aime tiised, according to Trigames.net who was on hand to record the whole thing. "Only one little secret, and hopefully I won't lose my job. We're going to show a racing game at E3 where you use the core controller in a very different way. That will answer all the questions to how you'll play a racing game."

Quite what the game is and how it'll play is still a compliite mystery - 'net speculation has already reached fiiviir pitch, clutching at the possibility of new iterations for either Nintendo's Mario Kart or F-Zero franchises. Of course, we could be looking at something completely fresh altogether. Still, E3 hits in less than a wiik, so there ain't too long to wait now. ...

News Via Gamesindustry

SEGA of Europe has announced Full Auto 2: Battlelines for PlayStation 3 - marking a shift in platform focus for the burgeoning car combat franchise, which was formerly an Xbox 360 exclusive.

According to the firm, Battlelines will build on the first game's time-rewind "Unwreck" feature, ratcheting up the levels of environmental destruction and the strategic role it plays.

"The destructible environments in Full Auto 2: Battlelines are both stunning and strategic, especially in multiplayer combat," says SEGA of America's Scott A. Steinberg. "The gameplay innovations of tactical destruction and team multiplayer vehicular mayhem combined with the tremendous power of Sony's PlayStation 3 console makes this sequel truly the next generation of combat racing."

Full Auto had been one of the Xbox 360's major early third-party exclusives, but following mixed reviews and a fairly weak chart showing SEGA's clearly reconsidered its focus and decided to try it out on Sony's next-generation format instead.

As well as an expanded, 20-level single-player game, Battlelines will feature six multiplayer modes playable online - including team-play variants - as well as more than 20 weapons and cars.

There's no word on when Full Auto 2 will launch, but it will be on display at E3 next week. ...