via Gamedaily


In mid-March leading video game retailer GameStop said they expect shortages for Nintendo's Wii to continue for several more months. But why is there a shortage for the system in the U.S. well over a year after the console's launch? If you ask Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter, it's all the fault of our faltering economy and the weakened U.S. dollar.

Speaking to the Dallas Morning News recently, Pachter noted that Nintendo is deliberately allocating more of its Wii stock for Europe because it can make a bigger profit selling to consumers across the pond. Since Nintendo is a foreign company, when it sells its products in the U.S. for U.S. dollars, our currency has to then be converted into Japanese yen. Because the dollar right now is relatively weak, Nintendo is better off converting the euro.

That said, demand for the Wii has reportedly come down to more normal levels in Europe, and as such Nintendo will likely be shipping more units to the U.S. to satisfy the still greater demand stateside. Therefore, the Wii shortages in the U.S. should subside as 2008 progresses. ...

via Joystiq


We're beginning to get a little dizzy amidst all this tête-à-tête action between Microsoft and Sony regarding the Blu-ray format. Sony says Microsoft's building a Blu-ray drive, Microsoft says it's not. MS CEO Steve Ballmer says the company's thinking about it, then another MS exec says disc technology's on its way out. Now, Digitimes is reporting that manufacturer Lite-On IT is amidst development of Blu-ray drives for the Xbox 360, to be included in future iterations of the 360 hardware.

According to Digitimes' sources, the BD-ROM drives are due to ship out to Microsoft in the second half of this year. Lite-On has previously developed internal DVD-ROM drives for the Xbox 360, leading us to believe that Microsoft may plan to include internal BD-ROM drives in future 360 iterations (such as those including the Jasper, Opus and Valhalla chipsets). No need to fear, however: Such an inclusion would likely be solely for Blu-ray disc playback, and not for Xbox 360 games pressed on BD-ROMS (we hope). ...

via IGN


Square Enix certainly didn't wait long to get the downloadable content train running following its first foray into downloadable gaming last week with the start of the Japanese WiiWare service. First stop: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King.

The company made available today the first wave of paid download content for the simulation/RPG, which launched with the service last week. Owners of the game (which, we'll remind you, is only available in Japan at the moment) now have access to eight items.

The main attractions for this first content update are three new character races: Lilty, Yuke, and Selkie. The original title shipped with just one class, Clavat. Each new race costs 300 Wii Points a piece, or you can get all three together for 800 Wii Points.

The new content also includes a couple of new buildings, each 200 Wii Points. With the Seinaru Hokora building, you can raise your adventurer's stats temporarily by having your king pray at the building. The change apparently occurs in real time, as your king prays (which we presume will keep you busy when your adventurers are out during the day). Also available is the Mansion, a large house that's populated by a family of 8. As usual, only one of these is an adventurer, but because the family is so big, you'll get a boost in taxes over a standard house.

The above items initially appear in the game in the form of dungeons. Once you've cleared the dungeons, you gain the ability to build the new building types and the homes that will house adventurers of the new race types. You're limited to making five of each of the race houses. The other two houses are limited to three each.

Other updates include new clothing for your King and for your support character, Chime. Each of these items cost 100 Wii Points. Unlike the other items, you're able to use these immediately upon making your download. Simply head to your castle and go into your closet to change.

Items, at least for Crystal Chronicles, are purchased exclusively from the game's title screen or your in-game castle menu. They cannot be purchased from the Wii Shopping Channel.

Before getting access to the downloads, though, players will have to update their copy of the game by re-downloading it through the Wii Shopping Channel. This update is, of course, free. This whole re-download business will presumably not be needed for the international versions of the games.

The downloadable content doesn't end here. Square Enix made mention today of future download content that includes a library, which will let you learn the unique abilities of the various races; the Unlimited Tower, a dungeon that can be played through over and over again; and the ability to change your adventurer's names. Specifics for these future downloads were not revealed. ...

via Joystiq


Role-playing fans can slip on their dancing shoes and party like it's 1991. A new interview with Final Fantasy IV director Takashi Tokita in the latest Nintendo Power seems to point to the game's recent DS remake being localized for North American audiences. Oh sure, he doesn't come right out and confirm the localization -- where's the drama in that? -- but given that the article comes peppered with English language screens and the game itself is featured on the cover, we're certainly leaning towards believing that the RPG will soon be getting some domestic love.

Tokita also toys with our emotions, speaking to the possibility of a remake of SNES RPG classic Chrono Trigger provided "the demand is great enough." Though like coming down hard off a caffeine high, he sends us crashing back down to earth by adding that he really wants to "create new titles and not just series installments and remakes." Yours is a cruel love, mon cher. ...

via Computer and Video Games


The teasiest of teasing hints from Camelot Software Planning has raised hopes that the Golden Sun developer is planning a new game in the RPG series.

"Honestly, just like your readers saying that they want to see a new Golden Sun, a new tennis game, a new Shining Force, well, everyone in Camelot feels the same way - we really want to get these games out for you guys", heads of the Japanese studio Hiroyuki and Shugo Takahashi said in interview with IGN, dangling a carrot.

Inviting further speculation, the pair confirmed that the developer is currently in the planning stages of "doing something interesting", suggesting that whatever this is it's an RPG for DS or Wii.


Golden Sun and sequel Golden Sun: The Lost Age released on GBA critical acclaim. ...

via Computer and Video Games


The teasiest of teasing hints from Camelot Software Planning has raised hopes that the Golden Sun developer is planning a new game in the RPG series.

"Honestly, just like your readers saying that they want to see a new Golden Sun, a new tennis game, a new Shining Force, well, everyone in Camelot feels the same way - we really want to get these games out for you guys", heads of the Japanese studio Hiroyuki and Shugo Takahashi said in interview with IGN, dangling a carrot.

Inviting further speculation, the pair confirmed that the developer is currently in the planning stages of "doing something interesting", suggesting that whatever this is it's an RPG for DS or Wii.


Golden Sun and sequel Golden Sun: The Lost Age released on GBA critical acclaim. ...

via Computer and Video Games


A new Trauma Center game, currently dubbed Under the Knife 2, is on the way to DS, and will boast a new mode that will help the more cock-handed surgeons of you.

The first Trauma Center game was brilliant, but was thought by many to be a little too difficult. The new game will, according to Nintendo Power (via DSFanboy), boast a new mode, presumably a simpler Easy mode, that will combat the rock hard challenges that made you wimps cry in the last game.

Dr, Stiles and Nurse Angie Thompson is said to star again, apparently to explore the "unanswered mysteries" of the now defeated GUILT Virus.

Although we expect Atlus to dream up plenty of new instruments and gameplay mechanics, none are currently revealed. But the game is expected out this summer, so look out for more information very soon. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto IV is poised to sell 5.8 million units during its first week of availability, according to Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey.

In a note to GameStop investors, Hickey highlighted this year's top games that are expected to drive sales at the retailer.

Among titles such as Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Halo Wars, Wii Fit, Fallout 3, Mercenaries 2 and other high-profile games, Hickey singled out GTA IV, which is slated to release April 29.

"We expect [GameStop] will benefit from the release of GTA IV in their fiscal Q208 period, which could ship 5.8 million units in the first week or $360 million in retails sales and potentially $110 million for the Company," he wrote.

Hickey's week-one estimates are in line with Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, who said in mid-March that he expects GTA IV to sell 6 million in its first week.

Pachter said he expects the game to sell 9 million during Rockstar parent Take-Two's fiscal year.

Hickey expects game industry software sales to grow 20 percent year-on-year for calendar 2008, with hardware sales growing 13 percent. ...

via Compter and Video Games


Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has debuted at No1 in the UK, becoming the fastest selling PS3 title within a week.

Released as a budget title, the racer beats previous fastest weekly seller Resistance: Fall of Man, which set the record back at the time of the PS3's launch.

A 50 percent drop in weekly sales sees Ubisoft's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 drop one place to No2, while Sega's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games also falls one spot to No3.

Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 climbs seven positions to No4, the release of the Wii version helping to drive a 109 percent jump in weekly sales, while Activision's Guitar Hero III rounds off the top five.

Sega's Viking: Battle for Asgard debuts at No8, EA's Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath at No16, Sega's House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return at No21 and Sony's God of War: Chains of Olympus at No29.

01. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (Sony)
02. Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (Ubisoft)
03. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Sega)
04. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami)
05. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Activision)
06. Sega Superstar Tennis (Sega)
07. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision)
08. Viking: Battle for Asgard (Sega)
09. FIFA 08 (EA)
10. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (Nintendo) ...