via Kotaku


The SOCOM: Confrontation public beta hasn't exactly been smooth. Good thing it's a beta. And good thing it's getting patched today with 8:00 AM EST — server maintenance will take 1.5 hours. But the Public Beta 1.10 Patch isn't a cure-all. According to the SOCOM Online Team: "The server maintenance and patch are not meant to address all issues. We will have more updates to both the server and client in the future."


...

via Eurogamer


SEGA has told Eurogamer that Samba de Amigo will release a week later than expected on 26th September.

This Wii update of the Dreamcast original made for a musical smile after our hands-on session earlier in the year. There may be no maraca peripherals, but the colourful rhythm-action game packed exactly the sort of friends-will-laugh punch we expected. And we do expect punch.

Excitingly, Samba de Amigo will also offer downloadable songs to shake along to post-launch. "Are You Going to Be My Girl" by Jet has been confirmed to appear, as has stuff by Lou Bega and Bow Wow Wow, the US rapper who shot to pre-pubescent fame a few years back.

The full list of both new and returning Samba de Amigo songs can be found elsewhere on Eurogamer.

Expect our thoughts on the game in timely fashion. ...

via Games Industry


Pandemic Studio's Mercenaries 2: World in Flames has debuted at first place on the UK software sales chart for the week ended September 6, according to data from Chart-Track.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 was knocked down a place to number two, followed by Maxis' Spore - which made it's debut on the chart at number three after only a single day on sale.

Wii Fit dropped a place from last week to number four, pushing down Carnival: Funfair Games to fifth place. Mario Kart Wii dropped four places from last week to come in at number six, while Wii Play came in at seventh and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games came in at eighth.

Big Beach Sports secured a spot at number nine and closing off the chart at ten was Wall-E.


The UK software sales chart for the week ended September 6 follows:

1. Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
2. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
3. Spore
4. Wii Fit
5. Carnival: Funfair Games
6. Mario Kart Wii
7. Wii Play
8. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
9. Big Beach Sports
10. Wall-E ...

via Joystiq


EA has announced a drop of £20/€30 from the recommended retail price for the Rock Band Instrument Edition pack sold in Europe. This means the cost of the instrument bundle and game, which sold separately for a combined price of £180/€240, will go from the shocking price of $360 (when converted to American bucks), to the better-than-before price of $300.

EA also stated that the PS3, PS2 and Wii versions of the game will release this September on the continent. Hopefully, EA/MTV/Harmonix will work out better pricing for the sequel when it's eventually released in Europe ... or at least come up with a better excuse for the high price. ...

via Engadget


We don't have any idea where this information came from, but the Telegraph is reporting today that the HTC Dream will launch on T-Mobile UK sometime in November. That's the same time frame we've heard before, and it certainly seems like El Goog's first Android phone is close to its debut, so it's definitely plausible, but we'd still take this one with a grain of salt -- even though we want this thing yesterday. ...

via Games Industry


The Nintendo DS is the top selling platform in Japan for the month of August, according to data from Enterbrain, as reported by Gamasutra.

Enterbrain reports that the DS sold 333,000 units, down by 29 per cent compared to the previous year's results. However, this is the first time the DS has been the top-seller in Japan for several months.

The PlayStation Portable was in second place with 292,000 units sold, The Wii was the best selling console at 181,000 units, while Namco Bandai's Tales of Vesperia boosted Xbox 360 sales to 45,000 units.

The best selling game of the month was Rhythm Tengoku Gold for the DS at 625,000 units. This was followed by Sega's Phantasy Star Portable for the PSP, selling 572,000 units. ...

via Computer and Video Games


The next Banjo-Kazooie game could expand upon the vehicle-building concept of upcoming sequel Nuts & Bolts - provided the new game goes down well with the public, Rare has told CVG.


Speaking to CVG this afternoon, Miller and lead technical artist Neill Harrison revealed that the Rare team has a few "crazy ideas" for more Banjo mechanic work, and it'll "probably" expand the building concept for future games.


Sounds good to us. Stern platforming loyalists were getting all hot and sweaty over the vehicle building direction at first, but after a lengthy play session we're convinced it's a winner. Give us more please, Rare.

In the same interview the Rare two-some revealed that Nuts 'N Bolts, in fact, started as a traditional platformer.


Look for the full interview shortly. ...

via IGN


School's back in session, but it's not the only place to get your brain buzzing. This week's additions to the Wii Shop Channel include a challenging new puzzle game available via WiiWare, plus a pair of crackling Virtual Console actioners to keep your imagination raging between classes. Even if your school days are behind you, this latest lineup of downloadable titles will help get you fired up for fall, fueled by the one-of-a-kind fun of Nintendo's top-selling Wii system.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

Groovin' Blocks (Empty Clip Studios, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): A music-based game like no other, Groovin' Blocks adds innovative musical game play to an addictive action/puzzle game foundation. Play to the rhythm of the music to increase your score, and try to hit "Superbeats" to double your multiplier. Go for the high score in each of the 27 stages as you collect stars to unlock 15 levels of power-ups. Groovin' Blocks features three skill levels, from the accessible Casual to the fiendish Hard mode. Play with your friends in co-op mode or against them head-to-head. Head-to-head brings it up a notch as the power-ups now become attacks on your opponent. Play head-to-head with people of all skill levels using a golf-style handicapping system.

Virtual Console

Final Solider (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone -- Mild Fantasy Violence, 700 Wii Points): A vertically scrolling shooter from the well-known Soldier series. In the 23rd century, invaders from the future suddenly attack Earth. Controlling a fighter created by the world's scientists, you rise to meet the enemy. Collect power-up units, such as LASER, E-BEAM, FIRE and MISSILE, and then equip them in Options to launch a variety of attacks. For each of these weapons, you can freely select from three different types in SET-UP. Anticipate enemies' strikes and deftly switch between weapons to defeat the invaders. In addition to NORMAL GAME, there are also 2 MINUTE GAME and 5 MINUTE GAME score-attack modes. The most perfect blend and balance of any game in the series, Final Soldier is a title you don't want to miss.

Cho Aniki (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone and Older -- Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 900 Wii Points): The odd world in this shooter made for quite the conversation piece in its day. Players control either Idaten or Benten, celestial warriors out to bring an end to the tyrannical rule of the emperor of Planet Builder, who holds muscular prowess to be the supreme virtue of the universe. Aided by able-bodied muscle-head options Adon and Samson, they must battle to defeat the emperor's army across five stages. Use the buttons to fire away and lay into the Builder forces. Power up your character and options with protein from defeated enemies to have them "bulk up" with a yell, and take their macho battle to the next level. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Animal Crossing: City Folk on Wii will cost $69.99 (around £40) in US when it is released bundled with the new WiiSpeak voice chat peripheral.

The price comes from US retailer Gamestop's recent managers' conference in Las Vegas (via Destructoid)

City Folk will utilise WiiSpeak to allow players to speak to each other online as they wander around each others' towns, although don't expect to be able to talk to anyone other than people on your friends list. Nintendo protects the kids, you see.

The game's set to hit Japan this year, but US and UK dates have gone unannounced. ...