We're always confused by pre-order offers for downloadable games -- even more confused by pre-order offers for OnLive games, for which the game code technically never leaves OnLive's servers.

But we're able to overlook logistical questions, because OnLive is extending the generous offer of a free Microconsole with pre-order of Assassin's Creed Revelations, for those who purchase the $49.99 game by November 19. It's the same deal the service offers with every major release, and it wows us every time. "Free console with purchase of game" is a pretty good hook, an evaluation shared by Ezio's new equipment.

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/ge...velations-pre/ ...

In 1987 Nintendo introduced European gamers to The Legend of Zelda.

The title was unique in the way that it combined action, adventure, exploration and even a basic levelling up system.

It also introduced gamers to the boy hero Link, the evil king Ganon, the princess Zelda and the land of Hyrule – characters and worlds that would define the series for 25 years.

From here on out the series would grow and grow in popularity, often changing in tone and graphical style. Each game received critical acclaim – even the black sheep of the Zelda family, the underrated Zelda II.

There was a few hiatus on the way. It was almost five years between the second Zelda and the third one. Likewise, Ocarina of Time arrived following another five-year gap for the series.

Outside of the main franchise, the Zelda series has spawned a number of spin-off titles – although nothing like Mario. These include 2007 Wii budget game Link’s Crossbow Training, and a DS title starring the irritation Wind Waker and Majora’s Mask oddity Tingle.

There was also a trilogy of games released for the Phillips CDi. These games were terrible, and although officially licensed, were created with next to no input from Nintendo. Link: The Faces of Evil, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon and Zelda's Adventure are not counted as part of the official Zelda series.

Below, as part of our week long celebration of The Legend of Zelda, we run through the main games in The Legend of Zelda series.

1987 –
The Lege nd of Zelda
The ground breaking NES original introduced gamers to the boy hero Link in his bid to find the Triforce, defeat the evil Ganon and save Princess Zelda. Fans can get hold of a copy quite easily over the Wii Virtual Console.

1988 -
Ze lda II: The Adventure of Link
One year later the first sequel arrived, with Link on the hunt for the Triforce of Courage. The game included side-scrolling gameplay, and as a result is often seen as the black sheep of the Zelda series. It is also available over the Wii Virtual Console.

1992 -
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The iconic SNES title returned to the first game’s top-down view, and featured two worlds – light and dark. It is also available to download via the Wii Virtual Console.

1993 –
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Heralded as one of the greatest portable games ever, Nintendo managed to squeeze the Zelda formula onto a Game Boy cartridge. Link must wake the Wind Fish to escape Koholint Island. A colour version of the game, featuring a new dungeon, was released in the UK in 1998. It can be downloaded via the Nintendo eShop.

1998 –
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Widely accepted as the greatest game ever, Ocarina of Time rendered Link in 3D for his N64 debut. It’s been re-released a few times and can be downloaded via the Wii Virtual Console.

2000 –
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Ocarina of Time’s sequel was a darker and more intimate affair, with a moon on a collision course with the land of Termina. It is available to download now via the Wii Virtual Console.

2001 –
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages
These two Capcom-developed Zelda games for Game Boy Color could be played in any order, but then linked together for the final, ultimate showdown.

2003 –
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
This acclaimed GameCube game boasted beautiful cel-shaded visuals. In the adventure Link took to the seas to save his sister, and discovered the lost kingdom of Hyrule in the process.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past & Four Swords
Four Swords was the first ever multiplayer Zelda game and was introduced a part of the remake of A Link To The Past on Game Boy Advance.

2004 –
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Finally Zelda fans could find out how Link got his iconic green hat. Our hero shrinks down to miniature size in a game that acted as a prequel to the
two Four Swords games.

2005 –
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Four Swords’ sequel was a GameCube release. Up to four players could use the Game Boy Advance as a controller and a second screen to defeat Shadow Link and the real villain, Ganon


2006 –
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Link discovered his inner beast and hero in this adventure. The GameCube and Wii title featured a more mature visual style. It is available now on Wii as part of Nintendo’s Selects range.

2007 –
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Wind Waker’s 3D?cel-shaded visuals returned for Zelda’s DS debut. Using intuitive touch screen controls, players had to travel the Great Sea to save Link’s friend Tetra.

2009 –
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
When Zelda’s body is taken, leaving just her spirit behind, Link must team up with the princess in this sequel to Phantom Hourglass, which swaps boats for steam trains.


2011 –
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The 1998 classic is back on Nintendo 3DS. Fans and newcomers can rediscover the epic adventure in remarkable 3D, with improved visuals and the addition ...

As sure as the sun rises, another day has arrived and with it another rumour regarding the successor to Xbox 360.
This time it’s the turn of French site Xboxygen (as spotted byVG247) which claims to have word that the new console will be unveiled at the next CES Expo which kicks off on January 10^th.
The course, which it goes without saying is “very close” to Microsoft, says the machine will have a hex-core CPU, and AMD GPU and 2GB of DDR3 RAM.
Furthermore, a division called Loop is supposedly handling software development with team Infinity developing the hardware.
The claims are at odds with the confirmation yesterday that Halo 4, which is due out in late 2012, will be an Xbox 360 game. Would Microsoft wish to announce a new console in January if it intends to ship a triple-A Halo title some eight or nine months later?
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/next-...-reveal/087351 ...

Apple's long promised cloud music service iTunes Match has finally been rolled out in the US, albeit two weeks late.
iTunes Match is a key strand in Apple's cloud strategy, letting music lovers scan their libraries and then replicate them on the cloud.
The idea is that they can all be replaced by better quality ( 256-Kbps AAC DRM-free) versions or re-downloaded when the user has a device stolen or replaced.
It works for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and PC, and costs $24.99 a year.
The launch heats up a music space that already supports streaming services like Spotify and Wimp, and could have more cloud-based participants from Google and Amazon shortly.
No news on any launches outside the US.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/itune...-the-us/087356 ...

SCE Korea has confirmed that it will be blocking access to the PlayStation Network for users under the age of 16 every night between midnight an 6am.
Microsoft is to implement a similar measure on Xbox Live, too.
Originally it was thought that games consoles would not be affected by new South Korean laws aiming to curb online games addiction, Kotaku reports, but this is now not the case.
In addition, from this Friday (November 18^th) those aged under 16 will not be able to register a new PSN account.
Platform holders have complained about the short timeframe which they have been given to implement the new measures. Indeed, Sony has yet to confirm exactly how it will go about handling the situation.
The move will also hit Xbox Live, though Sony’s machine enjoys a far broader user base in the territory. Apparently Microsoft is considering simply shutting down its entire XBL network in the region for all users every night.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/psn-a...hutdown/087359 ...

Electronic Arts is helping Nintendo in development of the Wii Uonline service, according to reports, and is bidding to make its Origin service a key part of the upcoming console's online offering.
According to an EA intern, speaking to WiiUGo, the console's online service will offer voice and video chat, leaderboards and friends lists. Nintendo has previously said its approach to Wii U online will be "much more flexible," which the source claims is a deliberate attempt to differentiate the service from Xbox Live.
"Many publishers are happy with Xbox Live's features, but they aren't happy with how strict Microsoft's guidelines are," said the source. "Nintendo went with an open, flexible approach to online because when it asked developers and publishers what they wanted in an online service, that was the number one thing they asked for."
The prospect of EA powering Wii U online apparently appeals to Nintendo, too, with the source claiming the company sees it "as an opportunity to rebuild relationships with western gamers because they feel that only a massive western company such as EA understands what is needed to make an online service attractive to western gamers."
Valve is also apparently bidding to make Steam a core component of Wii U online, but the source says EA is "aggressively persuading Nintendo to go Origin-exclusive so they can gain a competitive advantage over Steam."
All of which is to be taken with quite the pinch of salt, of course, but it would go some way to explain Peter Moore's enthusiasm for the console. In August he said EA was "relieved...that they have made a huge commitment [to online] that they have presented to us."

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/report-...r-wii-u-online ...

The introduction of PEGI ratings in the UK has been delayed again, meaning that any enforcement of the system is at least 6 months away.
PEGI ratings were part of the Digital Economy Act passed 18 months ago, but according to UK Interactive Entertainment, the passing of a Statutory Instrument needed to bring the Act into force has not been notified to Europe or put before the House of Commons.
"This further delay to PEGI's implementation is extremely frustrating not to mention disappointing," said UKIE chairman Andy Payne.
"We have received repeated assurances from Government that the process is in hand, yet PEGI is still no closer to implementation.
"It is also disappointing that a Government constantly - and quite rightly - pressuring industry to put measures in place to protect children - can't seem to deliver on its side of the bargain.
UKIE claims it has been in contact with the Department of Culture Media and Sport to ensure the Statutory Act is drafted correctly, as well as with the Regulatory Policy Committee - set up by the Government to analyse legislation and ensure it does not become a burden for the industry to adopt.
"The Government has set it stock by making the UK one of the best places in Europe to do business yet despite industry consistently calling on the Government to introduce the necessary measures to reduce the cost of doing business, we have been hit by delay after delay," added Payne.
"It seems that the much talked about red tape has yet again got in the way of creating wealth for UKPLC."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...yed-once-again ...

Ten years ago today, Microsoft’s first games console was put to the mercy of the market. Built under enormous time constraints and creaking from the weight of hype during its production, the future of the Xbox was never certain.
After all, only a handful of console manufacturers have survived Nintendo and Sony’s space. The pressure is such that new consoles quickly find themselves in the same pit as Jaguar, Dreamcast and Neo-Geo if just a couple of business meetings go the wrong way.

If Xbox’s endurance isn’t impressive enough, the extent of its success is bedazzling. It stands shoulder-to- shoulder with PlayStation in terms of global sales and has stridently attacked Nintendo’s casual stronghold.
These commercial triumphs would not be possible without the creative drive from game developers around the world. Develop speaks to a number of studio bosses and creative heads, from established studios to new arrivals, to pay tribute to Microsoft’s prolific box

http://www.develop-online.net/news/3...Xbox-turns-ten ...

The Fire was due to go on sale today, but perhaps the imminent release of a new Barnes & Noble Nook this week – and significant pre-orders – pushed it to go early.
The $199 7-inch device is a lot cheaper than the iPad and most Android tablets, and this cost factor along with the tight integration of content and hardware (made possible by Amazon's tweak of the OS) has led observers to see Fire as the first major rival for the Apple devices.
It's expected to sell 5m before Christmas.
"Based on customer response we're building millions more than we'd planned," said Dave Limp, VP of Amazon Kindle.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...y-early/016146 ...