via Computer and Video Games


Midlands Wii Chippers, The Welsh Game Barron - the ELSPA Anti-Piracy Unit has defeated them all. But this week the heroes in black send word of a new type of criminal... one who puts DS games onto discs.

During an 85,000 disc haul at an East Yorkshire Sunday market (the APU don't HAVE weekends), the crack criminal-busting unit found discs containing illegally copied DS games, "the first of their kind", apparently marked 'Volume 9 DS Games'. Where are volumes one to eight, then?

According to ELSPA's "forensic experts", the disc is the first of its kind discovered in the UK.

The approximate value of the games on the disc, says ELSPA, should a member of the public purchase it in a High Street shop, is £6,000.

The group hasn't said anything about convicting the bloke who owned (or now not) the discs, but if it's anything near as harsh as it was on the last poor sod, he's going to get 10 years and at least 50 lashes from the ELSPA whip.

"Piracy costs the games industry dear - just like that of any other entertainment industry," said ELSPA's crime unit chief, John Hillier.

"There are other things which the public should be made aware of about counterfeit games. Some of them will damage hardware, such as PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii consoles. Others will not play in PCs and consoles at all or, if they do, the quality of the graphics or gameplay mechanics may be impaired."

A spokesman for entertainment chain HMV said piracy was costing the industry "hundreds of millions of pounds". ...

via Joystiq


A sequel to the Wii's most electrically-charged Japan launch title is in the works. The latest issue of Official Nintendo Magazine (via CVG) reportedly says that Elebits 2 is due out on the Wii later this year. We haven't been able to yet get a copy of the magazine ourselves, nor has there been any confirmation from Konami or Nintendo, so we're going to file this under rumor for now.

The initial Elebits, also known as Eledees, launched with mixed reviews. We liked the concept, though, so it'll be interesting to see what comes of the developers having more time to polish. ...

via Computer and Video Games


In addition to bringing its Sam & Max episodic adventure series to Wii, Telltale's working a WiiWare game.

It's called Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, and will be release as a series of episodic instalments, with the first part to hit in June. It'll consist of five instalments in total, and be released on a monthly schedule.

Apparently, it's based on Matt and Mike Chapman's online animated series (Who? What?) and Strong Bad is "the self-proclaimed coolest person ever".

"The episodes play like extended cartoons, during which the player assumes the role of Strong Bad - controlling his actions, hearing his innermost thoughts, and becoming part of his awesome world," Telltale explains.

It continues, "Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People is a story-driven series with a comic spin that's undeniably Strong Bad. The player uncovers each episode's comedic plot through character interaction, dialogue-based puzzles, and the use (and abuse) of inventory items."

Telltale adds that each episode is crammed with "time-wasters" to "keep players poking around in the world, including Strong Bad emails to check, prank phone calls to place, and mini-games..." and that WiiConnect 24 features are included.

"The Chapmans have been treating the internet to episodic content for years. We're thrilled to have teamed up with them to take episodic gaming to the next level via Nintendo's innovative WiiWare delivery system", beamed Telltale CEO Dan Connors.

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People will be released on PC, too. ...

via Games Industry


Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G for the PlayStation Portable continued to dominate the top of the Japanese software chart for the week ending April 6, according to sales information compiled by Media Create.

It sold 488,000 units in that week, taking the total then to almost 1.4 million - although according to Capcom thanks to continued high sales since April 6 the game has now broken the 1.5 million barrier.

New entries took the next four places, also all for Sony platforms as the Corporation's consoles monopolised the top five, led by Musou Orochi: The Evil King Returns for the PlayStation 2 which sold almost 230,000 units.

Star Ocean 2: Second Evolution for the PSP took third, selling 91,000 copies, while the PS2 and PlayStation 3 versions of Pro Baseball Spirits 5 sold a combined total of 140,000 units in fourth and fifth places.

Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage fell four places from the previous week to sixth, while Wii Fit maintained its long-standing presence in seventh.

New entry for the DS, Tottado! Yowiko's Deserted Island Life took eighth place, followed by Super Smash Bros Brawl and Deca Sporta in the final two top ten places.

The week's sales meant that Sony platforms shifted almost 1 million software units in the top ten across the seven days, while Nintendo accounted for just over 180,000 - although Nintendo platforms actually made a clean sweep of all the chart positions for that week between numbers six and 25.

The full top ten is as follows:

1. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP)
2. Musou Orochi: The Evil King Returns (PS2)
3. Star Ocean 2: Second Evolution (PSP)
4. Pro Baseball Spirits 5 (PS2)
5. Pro Baseball Spirits 5 (PS3)
6. Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage (DS)
7. Wii Fit (Wii)
8. Tottado! Yowiko's Deserted Island Life (DS)
9. Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii)
10. Deca Sporta (Wii) ...

via Eurogamer


Konami Japan appears to be blocking outside attempts to sign-up for the Metal Gear Online beta test.

Those trying have suddenly found the Japanese site off limits, suggesting the developer is trying to keep a lid on the amount of people involved.

If you already have a code, your position may be less set-in-stone than you think - Konami could go on to deny all Western-originating IP addresses from taking part.

However, this would contradict comments made by series overlord Hideo Kojima, who flaunted the beta as a chance to gain worldwide feedback on what each territory wants.

Konami Europe was unavailable for comment.

The Metal Gear Online beta kicks off on 17th April, with the full game set to launch alongside MGS4 on 12th June.

MGO is a multiplayer spin-off to the Metal Gear series rather than an online side-order for the latest instalment. It aims to stand on its own two feet by offering ongoing downloadable content, and may be digitally distributed in the future.

Pop over to our first impressions of Metal Gear Online to see why fans of shooters should keep their non-patch covered eye on it. ...

via Joystiq


Though Amazon already spoiled the Metal Gear Solid 4 Standard Edition box-art surprise three days ago, Konami just sent us the North American Limited Edition packaging featuring the grizzled visage of our favorite mulleted (and now mustachioed!) sneaker, Solid Snake and his arch-nemesis Liquid Ocelot. We've also got final pricing here: Standard Edition will go for an unsurprising $60 while the Limited Edition – packing two "making of" documentaries and the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots soundtrack – for $85 [£43].

But, what's this? That Limited Edition will be even more limited in North America, available exclusively at everyone's favorite (read: no one's favorite) game retailer: GameStop. Maybe, if you're really lucky, you'll get to purchase one of their "Limited Edition" pre-opened shelf copies, with free hand grease and hard-to-remove sticker. ...

via Kotaku




Various European retailers are showing listings for a Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 bundle. Euro retailer Bart Smit lists "Playstation 3 Gta-4 Pack" above the regular and special editions of the game. Other retailers are stating for fact the bundle is definitely coming to Europe. Sony Europe has called this "rumour and speculation." We'll call it "obvious and probable." ...

via Computer and Video Games


Sony has released a cool video that walks eager PS3 fans through the flashy new PlayStation Store.

Grace Chen, senior manager of the PlayStation Store, runs through the new menus, showing off its new-found fluidity thanks the Store no longer running via a web browser.

She also shows off a brilliant new 'Preview' option that allows you to see video and screens of titles within the Store before making the purchase. Nice.

Take a look at the video on the official PlayStation Blog.

The new Store, along with firmware update 2.30, is expected out on April 15.


Video at the official Sony Playstation Blog ...

via Eurogamer


BBC technology journalist Darren Waters has explained the thinking behind the decision to bring the iPlayer to Wii - adding it's "almost inevitable" the service will also make it to PS3.

In a post on his blog Waters wrote, "How ironic that it is the Nintendo Wii, and not the PlayStation 3 nor Xbox 360, that becomes the first of the current generation of consoles to have a truly dynamic range of online video content... [The announcement] makes something of a mockery claims by Sony and Microsoft that their consoles are the true multimedia machines."

So why aren't the Wii's rival machines getting iPlayer too? Waters quotes Erik Huggers, future media and technology group controller at the BBC, as saying, "If you want to get on the PlayStation or Xbox, they want control of the look, the feel and the experience; they want it done within their shop, and their shop only."

Waters continues, "Reading between the lines it would seem Microsoft was unwilling to work with the BBC unless it was given more control over how the content was accessed and presented inside Xbox Live.


Such an update is likely to appear in the future, according to Waters: "I think this is almost inevitable - and so Sony gamers shouldn't be too distraught." ...