The tenth anniversary bundle of Bayonetta & Vanquish was the biggest new boxed release of the week in the UK.
The action titles from developer Platinum and publisher Sega were bundled together for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and reached No.10 in its first week at retail.
On the surface, this week's UK physical retail charts look familiar with the classic trio of FIFA 20 at No.1, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare at No.2 and Grand Theft Auto V at No.3.
But there are a number of returning games to the charts as a result of some Half-Term deals at major games retailers.
Deals around Team Sonic Racing at stores including Smyths sees the Sega kart racer reach No.7 -- a 99% increase in sales week-on-week. Microsoft's Forza Horizon 4 jumps 229% in sales and returns to the charts at No.8. Meanwhile, some deals around Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (including a Call of Duty bundle at GAME) sees the 2018 shooter re-enter the charts at No.11 (up 169% week-on-week).


https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...urn-to-top-ten ...

Microsoft has revealed a few new details surrounding the Xbox Series X.
In an Xbox Wire post, Xbox head Phil Spencer today said "the next console generation will be defined by more playing and less waiting," and some of the Series X features were designed with that in mind.
For example, the system will have a Quick Resume feature that lets players have multiple games in a suspended state for a near-instant return to action. Like the Xbox One X, the Series X will also support HDMI 2.1, which will let the console automatically set the connected TV or monitor to the mode with the lowest latency and synchronize refresh rates between the display and the game. Spencer also listed previously announced features like the system's SSD storage, 120 frames per second support, and optimized wireless communications with the controller as contributing to a focus on instant immersion.
Under the hood, Spencer said the Series X will have 12 teraflops of GPU performance. That's twice the Xbox One X's total and more than eight times the original Xbox One's capabilities.

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...ries-x-details ...

Snes9x GX v4.4.6 is released. Snes9x GX is a Super Nintendo(SFC) emulator based on Snes9x, ported to the Wii and GameCube. The code is a continuation of Softdev and Crunchy2's efforts, and uses libogc and devkitppc.

Snes9x GX Features:
* Based on Snes9x 1.53
* Wiimote, Nunchuk, Classic, and Gamecube controller support
* SNES Superscope, Mouse, Justifier support
* Cheat support
* Auto Load/Save Game Snapshots and SRAM
* Custom controller configurations
* SD, USB, DVD, SMB, Zip, and 7z support
* Autodetect PAL/NTSC
* 16:9 widescreen support
* Open Source!

Snes9x GX Changelog:
Fixed box art not working on GameCube

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx

http://www.emucr.com/2020/02/snes9x-gx-v446.html ...

FCE Ultra GX v3.4.5 is released. FCE Ultra GX is a modified port of the FCE Ultra 0.98.12 Nintendo Entertainment system for x86 (Windows/Linux) PC's. With it you can play NES games on your Wii/GameCube(NGC). Version 2 is a complete rewrite based on code from SNES9x GX.

FCE Ultra GX Features:
* Wiimote, Nunchuk, Classic, and Gamecube controller support
* iNES, FDS, VS, UNIF, and NSF ROM support
* 1-4 Player support
* Zapper support
* RAM / State saving support
* Custom controller configurations
* SD, USB, DVD, SMB, Zip, and 7z support
* Cheat support (.CHT files)
* IPS/UPS/PPF automatic patching support
* NES Compatibility Based on FCEUX 2.1.5

FCE Ultra GX v3.4.5 changelog:
Fixed box art not working on GameCube
Fixed some 3rd party controllers with invalid calibration data
Fixed file browser issues
Fixed issue changing Auto Save option

https://github.com/dborth/fceugx

http://www.emucr.com/2020/02/fce-ultra-gx-v345.html ...

1964 - Carnivorous Edition (2020/02/17) is compiled. Unofficial fork of 1964. 1964 is a free Open Source N64 Emulator. It is one of the top Nintendo emulators arround that you can get with a high game compatibility rate.

1964 - Carnivorous Edition Changelog
Bundle
Updated GLideN64 to WIP build
Updated GLideN64 to WIP build
Updated GLideN64 to WIP build
Updated GLideN64 to WIP build
Fixed GLideN64 mipmaps
Updated GLideN64 to WIP build
New GLideN64 texture pack for GoldenEye (HUD only)
Updated GLideN64 to WIP build
Added DirectInput plugin
Updated readme FAQ and install guide
Updated GLideN64 (Public Release 4.0)
Updated GLideN64 to WIP build
Recompiled RSP.dll
Added beta crosshair to texture pack
Updated GLideN64 to WIP build (split-screen supported)
Updated readme FAQ
Updated 1964.ini to use correct defaults for all ROMs
Updated readme FAQ (thanks to Graslu00)
Added 30fps cheat for GE\GF
Replaced No Audio 1964.dll with No Audio.dll (more stable)
Updated readme FAQ (thanks to DuskyLW and Pheonarx)
Updated N-Rage plugin to 2.3d
Added counter factor settings to 1964.ini for GE\PD
Updated Glide64.ini to use new buffer swapping for Perfect Dark\GoldenEye: X
Inserted Goldfinger 64 CRC to 1964.ini\Project64.rdb\Glide64.ini
Cleaned up readme
New Glide64 texture pack for GoldenEye (HUD only)
Removed standalone Perfect Dark speed-hack (now included in 1964)
Unpacked UPX compressed dlls msvcp60d.dll and msvcrtd.dll (caused antivirus false positives)
Replaced ASPack'd zlib.dll with unmodified zlib.dll
Replaced saves with more complete saves
Updated readme guide and FAQ (thanks to Graslu00 and Oxygen)
Fixed typo in readme (thanks to Rekrul)
Updated GLideN64 (Public Release 2.0)
Inserted GoldenEye: X 5e CRC to 1964.ini\Project64.rdb
Inserted GoldenEye: X 5d CRC to 1964.ini\Project64.rdb
Removed GE-MP (unfinished and source of false positive antivirus detection)
1964
Will ask user which video plugin to use on first launch
Fixed borderless fullscreen bug on ROM close
Added borderless fullscreen mode
Always disable autoload cheats on start up
Fixed Memory Pak corruption for players 2\3\4
Added 60fps firing rate fix to GE
Added region checks for GE\PD hacks
Adjusted filename for loading RSP.dll
Only update Project64.rdb if using Jabo
Status bar shows correct CF on launch
Default rdram\counter factor set to - 1 & 8mb
Opening cheats will now restore mouse cursor
Fixed show\hide cursor bug when returning from dialog window
Cheat settings will load from 1964.cfg
Combat boost now works at 60fps
No longer reset counter factor settings for GE\PD
Tweaked the default window size
Improved timing stability for GE\PD
Fixed GoldenEye TLB gamehack that caused issues with 24MB ROM hacks
Removed maximize button
Added option to increase PD speed-hack frequency
Reduced PD speed-hack inject rate (less aggressive)
Fixed bug that caused game to soft lock when unpaused
Fixed Memory Pak corruption on first write
Improved GE\PD ROM detection for loading default settings (supports Perfect Dark +)
Added PD speed-hack from Mouse Injector (more stable)
Will ask user for ROM folder on first launch
Profiling stats disabled by default
Changing states will display the new slot # in the Status Bar
Reverted relative filepath for saves\plugins as it caused issues with Windows 10
Removed CTRL+R hotkey for RSP plugin settings
Fixed bug with ROM properties window not displaying the correct defaults for GE\PD
Lock counter factor to 1 while Overclocking
Default counter factor set to 2
Extended overclock to 18 times (requires powerful CPU)
Removed overclock profiles (combined all in one exe)
Integrated overclocking into menu
Fixed save issue with uncommon characters in filepath
Removed registry functionality (uses 1964.cfg instead)
New icon provided by deuxsonic
Maximum Kernel Frequency on by default
New option - Set Maximum Kernel Frequency (thanks to deuxsonic)
New option - Disable Status Bar
Cursor is unhidden when opening plugin configuration windows
Backported 1964 1.1 cheat engine (better compatibility)
TAB now hides status bar (thanks to deuxsonic)
On first load, set input plugin to Mouse Injector in registry
Unpause only when entering fullscreen
Fixed cursor hiding while changing plugin settings
Fixed show\hide cursor bug (TAB now toggles cursor)
Changed filenames - caused emu detect issues in W10 (thanks to Stunning Cactus)
Auto enable\disable RSP emulation for GoldenEye 007\Perfect Dark (ROM name detection)
Adds ROM CRC to Project64.rdb when running new ROM (for Jabo compatibility)
Default plugins set to Jabo - Mouse Injector - Azimer
Romlist shows filename by default
Set Perfect Dark\GoldenEye: X to EEPROM 16KB (ROM name detection)
Two overclock profiles - six\nine times
Compiled non-overclocked 1964 version - for slow cpus\novelty
Mouse Injector
Adjusted UI
Rewrote BONDDATA scanning
Lowered FOV range for speedrun build
Adjust weapon position for override FOV
Compensate for override FOV while in aim mode
Limit SetCursorPos execution
Updated Copyright
Sanity check pickup threshold before overwriting
Created speedrun build (removes FOV advantage and pickup threshold adjustment)
Version 1.9 Released
Lock crosshair X axis when driving the tank while tank equipped as weapon
Override camera y axis pickup threshold (from -45 to -60)
Added enum type for mouse\keyboard
Enable revert after clicking detect input button
Flush input when starting injection thread
Replaced pthread_create with CreateThread
Doubled BONDDATA scanning time
Use ...

mGBA v0.8 is released. mGBA is a new emulator for running Game Boy Advance games. It aims to be faster and more accurate than many existing Game Boy Advance emulators, as well as adding features that other emulators lack.

Features:
- Near full Game Boy Advance hardware support[1].
- Fast emulation. Known to run at full speed even on low end hardware, such as netbooks.
- Qt and SDL ports for a heavy-weight and a light-weight frontend.
- Save type detection, even for flash memory size[2].
- Real-time clock support, even without configuration.
- A built-in BIOS implementation, and ability to load external BIOS files.
- Turbo/fast-forward support by holding Tab.
- Frameskip, configurable up to 9.
- Screenshot support.
- 9 savestate slots. Savestates are also viewable as screenshots.
- Video and GIF recording.
- Remappable controls for both keyboards and gamepads.
- Loading from ZIP files.
- IPS and UPS patch support.
- Game debugging via a command-line interface (not available with Qt port) and GDB remote support.

mGBA v0.8 Changelog:
Emulation fixes:
GB Serialize: Fix timing bug loading channel 4 timing
GBA: Fix multiboot entry point while skipping BIOS
GBA BIOS: Fix undefined instruction HLE behavior
GBA DMA: Fix invalid audio DMA parameters
GBA Memory: Misaligned SRAM writes are ignored
GBA Serialize: Fix serializing DMA transfer register
GBA Serialize: Fix audio DMA timing deserialization
GBA Video: Fix OAM not invalidating after reset (fixes #1630)
GBA Video: Fix backdrop blending on lines without sprites (fixes #1647)
GBA Video: Fix OpenGL sprite flag priority

Other fixes:
Core: Fix race condition initializing thread proxy
Core: Fix integer overflow in ELF loading
FFmpeg: Fix crash when -strict -2 is needed for vcodec or container
FFmpeg: Disallow recording video with no audio nor video
GBA: Automatically skip BIOS for multiboot ROMs
Qt: Only dynamically reset video scale if a game is running
Qt: Fix race condition with proxied video events
Qt: Fix color selection in asset view (fixes #1648)
Qt: Fix missing OSD messages
Qt: Fix crash unloading shaders
Qt: Fix toggled actions on gamepads (fixes #1650)
Qt: Fix extraneous dialog (fixes #1654)
Qt: Fix window title not updating after shutting down game
Qt: Fix GIF view not allowing manual filename entry
Qt: Fix non-GB build (fixes #1664)
Qt: Fix pausing Qt Multimedia audio (fixes #1643)
Qt: Fix invalid names for modifier keys (fixes #525)
SDL: Refresh stale pointers after adding a joystick (fixes #1622)
Util: Fix crash reading invalid ELFs
VFS: Fix handle leak when double-mapping (fixes #1659)

Misc:
FFmpeg: Add more presets
Qt: Fix non-SDL build (fixes #1656)
SDL: Use DirectSound audio driver by default on Windows
Switch: Make OpenGL scale adjustable while running

https://github.com/mgba-emu/mgba

http://www.emucr.com/2020/02/mgba-v081.html ...

This time, we turn to a fan favourite: the Nintendo 64 issue from November of '98 as we look at issue 21.
We blast off with a first look at one of the biggest games on the system. It's none other than Perfect Dark from Rare.
We then look at the interview with Howard Lincoln, who talks about the past, present and future of the Nintendo 64.
Then we jump straight into the wilderness with the massive 10 page review for Turok 2: Seeds of Evil by Iguana Entertainment. And finally, we look at the review for Glover by Interactive Studios.
Enjoy!

http://www.outofprintarchive.com/cat...agazine21.html ...

This week, we go back in time exactly 19 years to grab our issue 19 of DC-UK from February of 2001.
The first article is the review for the incredible Game Arts role playing game Grandia 2.
Followed by another incredible RPG, this time developed by Sonic Team: Phantasy Star Online.
Then we take a look at the upcoming Unreal Tournament, before we finish up with two racing games: Vanishing Point and Surf Rocket Racers.
Enjoy!

http://www.outofprintarchive.com/cat...k/DC-UK19.html ...

2020 game sales are off to a rough start in the US. The NPD Group today released its US sales report for January, showing steep drops in spending on game hardware and software.
For the January reporting period, NPD tracked total game spending (hardware, physical software, full-game digital sales from selected publishers, accessories and game cards) of $678 million, down 26% year-over-year.
When looked at individually, hardware and software performance was even worse. Hardware sales were down 35% to $129 million, with Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One all declining year-over-year. NPD analyst Mat Piscatella pointed to late-cycle hardware dynamics for the decline, noting that Switch led its competitors in both systems sold and money brought in.
Software sales were down 31% year-over-year to $311 million, with a lighter release slate named as a culprit. January 2019 saw the releases of Kingdom Hearts III and Resident Evil 2, providing a tough comparison. January's best-seller charts only featured one new release, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, but it was the best-selling game of the month. Elsewhere in the software charts, Piscatella noted that Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure finished ninth, which represents the fitness game's highest chart placement since its October debut.
Accessories and game cards were the best-performing part of the market compared to last year, bringing in $238 million for a decline of 11%. That total was helped by Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller, which was the best-selling accessory for the third straight month since its launch. According to the NPD, it is the fifth-fastest-selling game accessory in US history.

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...year-over-year ...