via Games Industry


Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has said that he's certain a high definition version of Nintendo's Wii home console will be released.

Nintendo needs to recapture the market for core gamers and overcome the image it's cultivated as a console for parents and children, said the analyst, speaking to AFP.


Last week, a report by respected journalist John Davison suggested that Wii HD was already being shown to developers and publishers, with Nintendo pencilling in a release for 2011.

According to the report, the Wii HD would be a true successor to the Wii, not just an upgrade, and feature high-definition visuals, more emphasis on digital distribution and a larger storage solution. ...

via Kotaku


Sure the Wii Speak Channel launches in North America on November 16th, but when will we be able to speak with our European friends over our tiny white box? I mean, sure...we could use a computer to do it, but who has one of those anymore? Well luckily for us non-computer people the Europeans don't have long to wait, as Nintendo announces the launch of the Wii Speak Channel Europe on December 5th, coinciding with the release of Animal Crossing: Same Old Game and the Wii Speak microphone, required to use the service.

The specifics are the same as the NA version, up to four friends anywhere in the world talking to each other while their Miis wildly gesticulate all over the screen, only this time they do it in French, German, Italian, or any number of languages you may or may not be familiar with. ...

via Games Industry


FIFA 09 has taken the top spot of the UK software sales chart for the week ended October 4, according to data provided by Chart Track.

EA's football game outsold last year's game by 37.5 per cent, 42 per cent of which was on the Xbox 360 version making it the console's third fastest selling title. FIFA 09 pushed Star Wars: The Force Unleashed down a place to number two, with sales declining 40 per cent from last week.

Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway climbed a position from last week to take third place, while Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii both fell two places to fourth and fifth respectively. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 came in sixth, up one place from last week, however Wii Play dropped a place to come in seventh.

Big Beach Sports jumped up one place to number eight, Disney's racing game Pure dropped a place in its second week to number nine and Carnival: Funfair Games came in tenth, down from seventh last week.


The UK software sales chart follows:

1. FIFA 09
2. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
3. Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
4. Wii Fit
5. Mario Kart Wii
6. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
7. Wii Play
8. Big Beach Sports
9. Pure
10 Carnival: Funfair Games ...

via Joystiq




Sony has already confirmed the PSP Wi-Fi store is coming this Fall for Japan. The official box art for a November 30 US PSP Brite (a.k.a. PSP-3000) bundle also shows store functionality (via Amazon), indicating that the fall launch will be global and just in time to keep yourself distracted during Thanksgiving dinner. It was previously rumored that the store would be coming with firmware 5.00.

In other PSP Brite news, the gang at Eurogamer spent the weekend with the upgraded handheld as well as firmware 4.20, featuring a Color Space option that, "If you set to [Wide], the system's display will appear more vivid."


More images at Amazon.com ...

via Computer and Video Games


Lego Batman is shipping to retailers this Friday, and we've got a bunch of new screens for you.

Featuring an original storyline and 30 levels, TT Games' Lego Batman allows you to play as either a hero or villain, from Gotham favourites such as the Caped Crusader, Robin, Alfred and Batgirl, to The Joker, Two-Face and Mr. Freeze.

The game's out on 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, PSP and DS, so there's no hiding from it.


Screenshots here ...

via Computer and Video Games


Sega is working hard with ratings boards to make sure that Platinum Games' super cool looking MadWorld has every chance of becoming a Western hit, but the game might not be released in some violence-sensitive countries, including its native land Japan.


Sega reps told MTV Multiplayer that the company's in regular contact with the Entertainment Software Ratings Board in the US to make sure the Wii exclusive receives only an M rating, supplying the board with regular builds of the super violent black and white - and blood red - title.

The publisher also said that releasing MadWorld in markets that don't usually take well to violent games, like Japan, Australia and Germany, wasn't part of its strategy right now, but that it would evaluate its wider release strategy if the game's a success in the US after it comes out in March 2009.

After the Daily Mail labelled MadWorld 'the most violent game ever' to appear on Nintendo's Wii, claiming it would 'dramatically transform' the console's image as a family-friendly system, Sega UK defended the game, telling this reporter that "MadWorld features fantasy violence in a cartoon environment, aimed at a distinct 18+ audience."

According to the MTV report the company's sticking to its guns and there's no need to worry about the game being toned down too much as it's still "plenty violent right now". From the sounds of it though, there's every chance MadWorld could turn out to be the next Manhunt 2.

Check out our recent interview with MadWorld's Japanese producer, Atsushi Inaba, here. ...

via Games Industry


Eidos is to release exclusive Tomb Raider: Underworld content for the Xbox 360, amounting to around six hours of extra material in two distinct chapters.

The first chapter, Beneath the Ashes, will be available over Xbox Live Marketplace this Christmas, with the second chapter, Lara's Shadow, due early 2009.


Tomb Raider: Underworld isn't the only high-profile title with exclusive downloadable content for the Xbox 360. New content for Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV is expected on the console before the end of the year.

Tomb Raider: Underworld will also be released on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PC, Wii and DS. ...

via Eurogamer


Square Enix plans to launch Star Ocean: First Departure on 24th October.

This PSP remake will mark the first time the original SNES Star Ocean story has been told outside of Japan.

And better technology means a revised game engine and better battle system, as well as fully voiced and animated cut-scenes. Voice acting - we should try that. No I will not stop mentioning it.

Star Ocean is an RPG made by Japanese outfit tri-Ace, which is hard at work on a fourth game in the series for Xbox 360 next year.

The developer is also remaking Star Ocean 2 (Second Evolution) for PSP, although no date has been mentioned outside of Japan. ...

via Eurogamer


Fans have found a rather calamitous multiplayer bug in Rock Band 2 that wipes groups from the hard drive.

The issue only seems to be affecting Xbox 360, according to the Rock Band forums (spotted by Kotaku). It triggers on consoles with a Live enabled primary account and non-Live enabled secondary account. Probably quite common, that.

If that's the case, then a frustratingly long way into the campaign the tour band will disappear, a bit like Chesney Hawks. The only option is to restart, risking the glitch being triggered again somewhere down the line.

Despite fan grumbles, developer Harmonix has made no mention of the bug in over three weeks. Distributor EA is looking into the matter.

Rock Band 2 is only available in the US on Xbox 360 for the moment, and has yet to be given any kind of European date. But that's not stopped us getting a copy, and we'll bring you a review later this week. ...