Well, here's the latest console sales from Japan via M-Create as usual and this time round, everyone gets a raise:


Nintendo DSi: 173,693
Nintendo Wii: 91,641
Playstation Portable: 71,540
Playstation 3: 33,688
Nintendo DS Lite: 31,120
Xbox 360: 11,797
Playstation 2: 6,659


In rough figures: the DSi tops the list, up 48,000. Wii follows, up 35,000. PSP is 3rd, up 17,000. Next is the PS3, up 3,000. 4th is the old Nintendo DS Lite, up 19,000. Xbox 360 comes 5th place, up 2,000. Last in line is the PS2, up 900. ...

via MCV


According to Edge, The Japan Fair Trade Commission has fined Sharp $3 million for price-fixing LCD displays used in Nintendo’s DS Lite.

The Trade commission sent a cease-and-desist order to Sharp, claiming the firm had colluded with Hitachi to control the price of displays, which violates Japan’s Antimonopoly Act.

Sharp responded in a statement insisting it was not in ‘violation of Antimonopoly Act’ as "Sharp and Hitachi, only two manufacturers, could not have controlled the prices."


However, the firm plans to ‘strengthen’ its compliance with law and business ethics as a result of the cease and desist orders.

The fine must be paid by March 19th. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Rare has detailed a Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts creation contest, which will be running for all those uploading photos of their fancy rides this Christmas.

Key members of the Banjo team will be pouring over the uploaded photos on Banjo-Kazooie.com (put there via the option in Nuts & Bolt's pause menu) and picking out the best seven user-made vehicles for a special prize... "in-game immortalisation."


Once the Banjo team has made its selections, the winners will be contacted via the email addresses associated with their Gamertags and asked to send Rare their blueprints for "mysterious purposes."

The rules for the compo are as follows:

• Deadline for entries is January 4th 2009, 12 midnight PST. This gives players the whole holiday to get creative on us.
• Anybody with a copy of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and an Xbox LIVE account can enter.
• You can submit as many contraptions and photos as you like; just remember that the cream always rises to the top.
• Wow us! Shock us! Just don't post dodgy contraptions (don't play coy, you know what we mean). The entry must be your own original work, infringe no copyrights and reference no third party trademarks, music, logos, names or images.
• In order to be included you'll need to allow Microsoft rights to distribute your entries, letting the widest possible audience marvel at your machinery.
• Just to be clear, this is not a competition with some kind of tacky physical memento as a prize. We're not giving away our secret by saying what the in-game immortalisation is just yet...

...

via IGN


Microsoft and Lionhead have officially delayed the first Fable II expansion into late January of 2009. The download will take players to the remote land of Knothole Island, a former paradise that is frozen and dying. There, new quests, characters and items await those willing to pony up the 800 Microsoft points (US $10) to buy it. This delay will also affect the free download that includes a few bonus goodies set to release alongside Knothole Island.

Microsoft provided this statement on the delay to IGN:


On the bright side, anybody who has a few rental properties in Fable II will find the extra month of waiting quite profitable (in game currency anyway). ...

via Joystiq


PlayStation.com's Pulse program has revealed* PSN's "overall" most downloaded games of 2008. Now, before cursing the heavens that PAIN is at the top of the list, PS3 Fanboy is quick to point out that the game was free with the Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle earlier this year.

The list is still packed with surprises, especially with the performance of High Velocity Bowling and Aquatopia. It's good to see that PixelJunk Monsters did well, but where's Eden? WipEout HD's absence is also noticeable. We'd definitely like to see Pulse do this as a monthly feature.

1. Pain
2. High Velocity Bowling
3. Super Stardust HD
4. PixelJunk Monsters
5. Flow
6. Warhawk
7. Aquatopia
8. Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection
9. High Stakes Poker Edition
10. Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty

...

via Eurogamer


Ankama Games, the French studio which created the remarkably successful and weird strategy-MMO Dofus, is working on its first console game for Xbox Live Arcade.

Islands of Wakfu is a spin-off from Wakfu, Ankama's in-development Dofus sequel, animated TV series and all-round "crossmedia universe". It's due for release in late 2009.

Although it shares the beautiful, hand-drawn, isometric graphical style of Dofus and Wakfu, Islands of Wakfu isn't massively multiplayer. It's an "adventure/beat 'em all style game", according to Ankama, and has a team mode that supports two players.

It's in development at a new studio Ankama set up to make console games, called Ankama Play.

Wakfu is due out next year, and Dofus is also getting a major overhaul soon. Read more about them at the Dofus and Wakfu gamepages. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Ubisoft will publish a special edition remake of Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars on Wii and DS.

The new 'Director's Cut' version of the game is said to build on the original, with new narrative "interwoven with the first story", according to Ubisoft.

"New puzzles have been added for Nintendo DS and Wii that specifically utilize Nintendo's unique control methods. The game also features stunning animated facial expressions drawn by Dave Gibbons, the artistic genius behind the comic book and upcoming movie, Watchmen," says the official blurb.

The game kicks off with you controlling photo-journalist Nicole Collard "who witnesses the brutal and horrifying murder of one of Paris's richest and most influential statesmen.


From what we remember, Shadow of the Templars was all good, so put this on your 'ones to look forward to' list. Both versions are due next March.


Screenshots ...

via Computer and Video Games


Ubisoft will publish a special edition remake of Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars on Wii and DS.

The new 'Director's Cut' version of the game is said to build on the original, with new narrative "interwoven with the first story", according to Ubisoft.

"New puzzles have been added for Nintendo DS and Wii that specifically utilize Nintendo's unique control methods. The game also features stunning animated facial expressions drawn by Dave Gibbons, the artistic genius behind the comic book and upcoming movie, Watchmen," says the official blurb.

The game kicks off with you controlling photo-journalist Nicole Collard "who witnesses the brutal and horrifying murder of one of Paris's richest and most influential statesmen.


From what we remember, Shadow of the Templars was all good, so put this on your 'ones to look forward to' list. Both versions are due next March.


Screenshots ...

via Eurogamer


(GBP 10.50 / EUR 15 approx), that's not that bad when you consider the PC version's USD 20 price tag, which is about 400 quid at today's exchange rate.

We'll have a Wii review of World of Goo, in which you build towers and other structures out of balls of goo, soonish. In the meantime, you can check out our World of Goo PC review.

Elsewhere there's the third game in the Art Style series, Orbient. Like its Art Style comrade Rotohex, it's a remake of a Bit Generations game, in this case Orbital. Players try to grow a star by absorbing other stars, apparently.

We'll be taking a look at all three Art Style games - the other one we haven't mentioned is called Cubello - in the near future as well. Orbient costs 600 Wii Points (GBP 4.20 / EUR 6 approx).

Otherwise, there's also Niki - Rock 'n' Ball at 500 Wii Points (GBP 3.50 / EUR 5 approx) to consider. It's from the makers of Plattchen: Twist 'n' Paint, apparently, and there's some footage on YouTube to help make your mind up.

Finally, for those of you with more Wii Points than sense, there's Sudoku Challenge! for 500 Wii Points as well. ...