via Eurogamer


Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima has told Eurogamer that he looks forward to a day when people stop asking him whether MGS4 is coming out on Xbox 360.


Pressed on MGS4's exclusivity and the possibility of an Xbox 360 port, Kojima reiterated that the PS3 had been chosen because he believed that the series' success had been entwined with PlayStation's, and admitted that "because MGS4 was optimised for the PS3 it is probably not possible".


Asked whether he would develop multiplatform games in future, Kojima said: "If we're talking about the future - not MGS4, but my future titles, if we're referring to that - if the hardware technology rises then obviously, you know, it won't be based on the hardware anymore. Probably I will first create the software and then, um, it's a strange word to say, but port to other hardware if that technological ability rises in all areas."

It's an approach that's already reaping rewards for others, including fellow Japanese developer Capcom, whose teams are known to develop games using an engine running on the PC platform, which can then be ported to PS3 and 360 - Resident Evil 5 being the latest example. ...

via Games Industry


Nintendo's Wii has become the first of the current generation of home consoles to sell over one million units in Canada.

The system has sold just under 1,060,000 units by the end of July according to data from NPD, reports CTV.ca.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 has so far sold just over 870,000 units in the region, with Sony's PlayStation 3 selling just over 520,000 units by the end of July.

For the first seven months of 2008, the Wii sold more units than both the PS3 and Xbox 360 combined. Nintendo's console sold 376,000 units, compared to 200,000 PS3s and 154,000 Xbox 360s.

The Xbox 360 was first of the systems released in Canada, in November 2005, with the PS3 and Wii following a year later.

NPD states that sales of hardware, software and peripherals in Canada were up 54 per cent in 2008, to CAD 920,000. ...

via Games Industry


Software sales in two of the key European markets continued to be utterly dominated by Nintendo for the week ending August 17, according to data from Media-Control GfK International.

The list in Germany was topped by Mario Kart Wii, with Wii Fit in second, while PC game Drakensang: The Dark Eye was the only non-Nintendo platform title in the entire top ten in third.

Brain Training and the DS edition of Mario Kart took fourth and fifth positions, followed by Mario & Sonic at the Olympics and Guitar Hero: On Tour in sixth and seventh.

Super Smash Bros Brawl for the Wii was eight, with More Brain Training and Summer Athletics finishing the top ten list.

In Spain the list was barely less Nintendo-dominated, with Wii Fit in first place and Beijing 2008: The Olympic Games for the PlayStation 3 in second.

Wii Play and Mario Kart Wii were third and fourth, while the PSP's Buzz! Master Quiz was the only other non-Nintendo platform title in fifth.

Super Smash Bros Brawl and Guitar Hero: On Tour were sixth and seventh while Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat? was eighth.

Wall-E for the DS and Brain Training rounded off the top ten, meaning that The Wii or DS was responsible for 17 of the top 20 titles across both countries.


The full German chart:

1. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
2. Wii Fit (Wii)
3. Drakensang: The Dark Eye (PC)
4. Brain Training (DS)
5. Mario Kart (DS)
6. Mario & Sonic at the Olympics (DS)
7. Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS)
8. Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii)
9. More Brain Training (DS)
10. Summer Athletics (DS)


The full Spanish chart:

1. Wii Fit (Wii)
2. Beijing 2008: The Olympic Games (PS3)
3. Wii Play (Wii)
4. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
5. Buzz! Master Quiz (PSP)
6. Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii)
7. Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS)
8. Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat? (DS)
9. Wall-E (DS)
10. Brain Training (DS) ...

via Joystiq


How nice you to join us. Do you have any idea what time it is? We were expecting you weeks ago! Well, no matter, go and take your seat with the rest of the Virtual Console class so we can begin.

• Samurai Shodown 2 (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): SNK's 1994 follow up to Samurai Shodown finally slices and dices its way onto the Virtual Console this week, bringing back most of the original's weapon-wielding cast, as well as several newcomers vying for the opportunity to skewer anything that moves with a pointy blade and sharp Engrish wit.
• Ys Book I & II (TurboGrafx 16 CD-ROM, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Nihon Falcom's enhanced remakes of the first two titles in the Ys saga finally levels up for the US Virtual Console. Offering roguelike-style combat and music we still find ourselves humming at the dinner table, this is a download not to be missed by role-playing fans with eyes for the classics.

...

via Gizmodo US


HTC's Dream phone, with Android goodness, hit the FCC last week, and details have been popping up elsewhere too: But a new pic over at FCC has given us a concrete bit of data at last... the Dream's size. It's a svelte 55mm, or 2.17-inches wide, and 115mm or 4.53-inches long. That's a jot shorter than the iPhone 3G's length (though it's 0.28-inches narrower,) and only slightly bigger than the HTC Touch Diamond at 4.02 x 2.01 inches. Do you spot what's missing? The all-important depth of the phone--it's not shown on the FCC imagery. The slide-out QWERTY keypad will play a part in that, but we don't know as yet exactly how slim or pocket-stretching it's going to be. ...

via Kotaku


Home's been with us as a concept for quite some time now. Since early 2007, actually. And here we are, in August 2008, and it's still not out. Will it ever come out? Yes. Will it be out this year? If you'd have asked us that last week, we'd honestly have said "eh, probably not", but now, the prognosis is a little more up-beat. Martijn Van der Meulen, a member of Home's development team, has told IGN "it is a 100 percent guarantee that Home will be released by the end of this calendar year". 100%? Dude seems pretty certain. There's no wiggle room in 100%. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Sega and Platinum Games have dropped the first screenshots of Bayonetta, the 360 and PS3 action game from Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya.

Bayonetta stars a girl lead character with guns strapped to her feet - and that's about as deep as public information on the title goes at this point.

A short trailer screened at Sega's unveiling event in London earlier this year showed the female lead flip out and fire bullets into the faces of her foes. It was all very DMC-like, which we weren't expecting at all.


Screenshots ...

via Eurogamer


Samba de Amigo on Wii will offer downloadable content when a trio of songs are added shortly after the game launches on 19th September.

"Mambo Mambo" by Lou Bega, "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow, and "Are you Going to Be My Girl" by Jet will join the main set-list of over 40 songs on 23rd September.

SEGA will announce regional pricing soon, apparently.

Samba de Amigo involves shaking your Wiimote and nunchuk along to on-screen prompts designed to match the rhythm of the music.

The Dreamcast original had actual maracas, but the Wiimote and nunchuk are up to the challenge, using the Wiimote speaker to create the same impression.

Check out our Samba de Amigo Wii hands-on preview for more details.

The full track-list follows, and cover bands are starred:

Wii-exclusive tracks

• "Baila Me" - Gipsy Kings
• "Papa Loves Mambo" - Perry Como*
• "Mambo No. 8" - Perez Prado
• "Conga" - Miami Sound Machine*
• "Low Rider" - War
• "Mambo No. 5" - Lou Bega*
• "Oye Como Va" - Santana*
• "Asereje" - Las Ketchup*
• "Arriba Allez" - Bellini
• "Magalenha" - Bellini and Mondonca Do Rio
• "Ran Kan Ran" - Tito Puento*
• "Groove Is In the Heart" - Dee Lite
• "Jump in the Line" - Harry Belafonte*
• "Do It Well" - Jennifer Lopez*
• "Como Ves" - Ozomatli
• "Cha Cha" - Chelo
• "Pon de Replay" - Rihanna
• "Smooth" - Santana*
• "Mexican Flyer" - Ken Woodman*
• "Borriquito" - Charo
• "Un Aguardiente" - WaveGroup
• "Solo Tu" - WaveGroup
• "Tango With Me" - WaveGroup

Returning tracks

• "Vamos A Carnaval" - WaveMaster*
• "Volare" - Gypsy Kings
• "Hot Hot Hot" - Arrow*
• "Salome" - Chayanne*
• "Tubthumping" - Chumbawumba*
• "The Cup of Life" - R. Martin*
• "Samba de Janeiro" - Bellini
• "Mambo Beat" - Perez Prado*
• "Livin' La Vida Loca" - Ricky Martin*
• "Bamboleo" - Gipsy Kings
• "Take On Me" - Reel Big Fish
• "El Ritmo Tropical" - Dixie's Gang*
• "Macarena" - Los Del Rio*
• "La Bamba" - Ritchie Valens*
• "Tequila" - Chuck Rio*
• "Soul Bossa Nova" - Quincy Jones
• "Samba de Amigo" - Bellini
• "The Theme of Rocky" - Bill Conti*
• "Mas Que Nada" - Jorge Ben*
• "Sway" - Gimbel and Ruiz*
• "El Mambo" - Solemar

Downloadable tracks

• "Mambo Mambo" - Lou Bega
• "I Want Candy" - Bow Wow Wow
• "Are you Going to Be My Girl" - Jet

...

via Kotaku


Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop for the Nintendo Wii is not a game for members of the press. It's nearly impossible for us to look at the game objectively after spending countless hours playing the highly superior Xbox 360 original. It's like reading War and Peace and then trying to fully appreciate the Cliff Notes version. It's can't begin to approach the level of polish, complexity, and the overall experience of the original, plus your friends might laugh at you if they catch you buying it. As I sat in on a hands on session with the title, I could see by the expressions on my peers' faces that no one seemed to be all that impressed.

No, Dead Rising for the Wii is for those folks who haven't owned a 360, haven't been steeped in Dead Rising press releases, news stories, previews, and reviews over the past couple of years - basically folks that don't read our website all that much. With that in mind, let's look at what's changing in the hobbled version of Dead Rising.

Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop uses a modified version of the engine for Resident Evil 4, so it might do the title a little more justice to consider it a Resident Evil parody rather than associate it with the original game. The change of engines modifies the entire feel of the game, giving it a more slow and plodding feel that its predecessor. You aim with the Wii remote, shoot with the trigger, and can either hit a button to initiate melee attacks or charge up your melee weapon by shaking the remote in order to unleash powerful special for more powerful strikes. The gun because much more important in the Wii version, as special melee maneuvers require that you stun your opponent with gunshots first. Even the lovable servo heads require a gunshot first, ruining the fun of running about willy-nilly tossing plastic heads all over the place.

In order to free up more CPU, Capcom had to sacrifice weapons. Any weapon that had a similar function as another has been condensed into one. This helps performance of course, but in exchange you lose the feeling of immersion you used to receive from being able to pick up nearly anything and use it as a weapon.

Of course the number of zombies on screen have been reduced, with the small demo level we experienced never showing more than a dozen zombies at a time, though they have upped variety a bit with the inclusion of evil poodle enemies and rare enemies like the electric police woman from the original game making her debut as a standard enemy.

There are some positive changes though. Overtime mode is unlocked from the get, go, and you no longer have to juggle side missions with your main objectives now that all of the side missions are required, a fact that Capcom PR thought might even make the game something players of the original might want to play through. Pretty sure they're wrong there, but the thought was nice.

Dead Rising: Shop Til You Drop might be one of the best zombie-shooting games the Wii has ever seen, but unless you've never been exposed to the original game you you might find some of the cuts a bit too deep. ...