via Eurogamer


Konami has told Eurogamer that Silent Hill: Homecoming has been pushed back to February 2009 in Europe.

The spooky PC, 360 and PS3 game was expected at the end of the month, on Halloween. No reason was given for the delay, and the publisher was reluctant to discuss the matter further.

We suspect regional localisation issues are to blame. Or, perhaps, Konami simply wanted out of a busy release period. Maybe the extra time will even be used to address a few issues.

Silent Hill: Homecoming was released in the US at the end of September and has earned decent critical applause - resulting in a Metacritic average of 73 per cent.

Homecoming is the sixth instalment in the long-running and successful Silent Hill series (Silent Hill: Origins on PSP being the fifth). Team Silent, however, no longer has a hand in the games, having backed out after Silent Hill 4. ...

via Joystiq


Deca Sports, Wii Sports, Carnival Games and all the other minigame collections on Wii had better watch their backs ... or at least join together, forming some kind of bargain bin Voltron to do battle against Big League Sports. Activision is bringing the new minigame collection to the Wii "this holiday season."

The collection will include 22 of the most "thrilling situations" from tennis, basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, and hockey. Also, there's character creation so (as we're sure they expected by now) it seems your Miis will miss out on the fun. ...

via Computer and Video Games


If you're a multi-platform owner and stuck for which console you will buy Saint's Row 2 for, your decision may be swayed by the fact that the PS3 version will completely lack Trophy support.

THQ has confirmed as much to CVG that following confusion over whether or not trophies would be supported in the game, with conflicting reports and statements all over the place.

Official word is that it's not happening.

The spokesperson could not confirm whether or not Trophy support would be added in a patch post-release, nor why it was omitted in the first place, although we suspect the launch of the trophy system may not have sat well with the already-delayed development schedule. ...

via Eurogamer


It's been announced that the first DS instalment in the TrackMania series will be released on 21st November.

TrackMania DS will feature more than a hundred circuits, three single-player modes and three types of environment. Rally tracks require you to handle dirt paths and winding tracks in ultra-light vehicles. In the Desert it's all about giant potholes and chain bridges. Power-slides and skidding skills will be needed for the Stadium circuits, where you'll get to race stylised F1 vehicles.


TrackMania DS will cross the finishing line, stand on the winners' podium and spray champagne in the face of a girl wearing hotpants on 21st November. Discover why that's exciting news in our TrackMania DS hands-on preview. ...

via Eurogamer


UK retailer GameStation has begun taking pre-orders for a Gears of War 2 bundle featuring a replica Gold Lancer Assault Rifle. And it could be yours for a meagre GBP 129.99. Peanuts.

The gold-painted plastic gun is the same model Epic announced was selling like "hot cakes" on Amazon back in August.

In detail: 36-inches in size, weighs 5kg, vibrates and makes a chainsaw noise when three C-size batteries are put in.

The GameStation deal also includes a Limited Edition copy of Gears of War 2.

This contains a 48-page hardback book of art introduced by Cliff Bleszinski, a 'Making Of' DVD, a Dom and Maria keepsake photo, a tin case and an Xbox Live code to unlock a gold-plated Lancer gun in Gears of War 2.

Gears of War 2 is due out exclusively for Xbox 360 on 7th November. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Details have emerged on Microsoft's "storage solution" for hard drive-less Xbox 360 Arcade owners looking to upgrade to the New Xbox Experience later this year.

The dashboard revamp, which has just been dated for November 19, requires a minimum of 128MB of free storage space - or at least a 256MB memory card.

Active live members with no storage or a 64MB memory unity will be offered a 512MB version for free, while all 'active' Arcade console owners will have the opportunity to purchase a 20GB hard drive for £12.99. Not a bad deal.

If you own an Arcade console and haven't used Xbox Live for more than 12 months, Microsoft's offering a 20GB HDD and 3 months XBL package for £19.99, which is fair enough.

You can register for the memory upgrade program on Microsoft's official site, and see the full list of offers below:

• Active Live members with no storage or a 64MB MU will be offered 512mb for free or a 20GB HDD for £12.99
• Active Live members with 256MB or 512MB MU but no HDD will be offered a 20GB HDD for £12.99
• Consoles that have not connected to XBL for 12 months and don't possess MU will be offered a 20GB HDD and 3 months Xbox Live for £19.99
• Active Live Arcade console owners without a HDD will be offered a 20GB HDD for £12.99
• Arcade console owners without a HDD and not connected to XBL within 12 months will be offered a 20gb HDD and 3 months Xbox Live for £19.99

...

via Games Industry


FIFA 09 has dominated the software sales chart for the week ended October 5, according to data provided by Media-Control GfK International.

The Spanish chart saw the football title take the top three spots on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2 respectively. Wii Fit came in fourth, followed by Wii Play at fifth and Mario Kart Wii at sixth.

FIFA 09 for the PlayStation Portable took seventh place and FIFA 09 for the PC came in ninth, preceded by Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for the PS3 at eight.

Closing off the top ten of the Spanish software sales chart was the PC MMO Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning at number ten.

Similary, the German chart saw FIFA take a dominant lead on most platforms, claiming the top four spots on PS3, PS2, Xbox 360 and PC respectively.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, for the PC, came in fifth, followed by Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning at sixth and the Sacred 2: Fallen Angel Collector's Edition at seven.

Wii Fit took eighth place and Mario Kart Wii took ninth, while Crysis Warhead for the PC closed the chart at ten.

The software sales chart for Spain follows:
1. FIFA 09 (PS3)
2. FIFA 09 (Xbox 360)
3. FIFA 09 (PS2)
4. Wii Fit (Wii)
5. Wii Play (Wii)
6. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
7. FIFA 09 (PSP)
8. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS3)
9. FIFA 09 (PC)
10. Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (PC)

The software sales chart for Germany follows:
1. FIFA 09 (PS3)
2. FIFA 09 (PS2)
3. FIFA 09 (Xbox 360)
4. FIFA 09 (PC)
5. Sacred 2: Fallen Angel (PC)
6. Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (PC)
7. Sacred 2: Fallen Angel Collector's Edition (PC)
8. Wii Fit (Wii)
9. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
10. Crysis Warhead (PC) ...

via Eurogamer


Ubisoft has popped a demo of Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway on Xbox Live Marketplace.

The sampler parachutes in at 1.32GB, and offers up an early portion of the tactical World War II shooter to get to grips with.

Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway is already out to buy, of course, but with a score of 7/10 is exactly the type of game - we like to think - that demos are useful for.

Or you could read our Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway review. ...

via MCV


EA’s FIFA 09 holds onto the No.1 position in this week's ELSPA/Chart-Track’s official UK All Formats Top 40 – despite sales being down 47 per cent.

The football title – which has been garnering exceptional reviews – holds off the stern challenge of Lego Batman, which takes second spot in its debut week.

Lego Batman is Warner’s biggest ever video game launch, released across all 7 major formats with 22 per cent of sales on Xbox 360, 22 per cent on budget PS2, 20 per cent on Wii, 17 per cent on PS3, 12 per cent on DS, six per cent on PSP and one per cent on PC.

There are seven different publishers represented in this week’s All Formats Top 10, with four titles selling best on Xbox 360, and the remaining six top sellers on Wii.

Wii Fit steps up one place to No. 3, bouncing back after last week’s dip in stock, while Star Wars: The Force Unleashed slips two places to No.4.

Ubisoft also drops two places as Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway falls to No.5.

Performance of the week goes to Atari’s Family Trainer, which climbs from No.2- to No.9.

The full All Formats Top 20 for the week ending OCtober 11th reads:


1) FIFA 09 – EA
2) Lego Batman – Warner Bros
3) Wii Fit – Nintendo
4) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – LucasArts
5) Brothers In Arms – Ubisoft
6) Mario Kart Wii – Nintendo
7) Wii Play – Nintendo
8) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 – EA
9) Family Trainer – Atari
10) Big Beach Sports – THQ ...