via Computer and Video Games


Whispers from an on-going retailer conference could have finally revealed the release date for Metal Gear Solid 4: June 12, 2008.

Word from Destination PlayStation says Sony will also be flogging a hardware bundle complete with MGS4, an 80GB PlayStation 3 and DualShock 3 in the same pack.

This would put both MGS4 and Grand Theft Auto IV on PS3 before the summer - surely a good reason if ever to pick up the hardware.

We're currently on the case with Konami to confirm the news, and as always will let you know. ...

via Eurogamer


Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has continued its Michael Johnson-like domination of the UK All Formats Chart.

The Wii version dug its spikes in and accounted for 58 per cent of the sales this week, helping it to a second consecutive gold medal and fifth in its career.

More surprising was FIFA Street 3 only managing to debut at 11, despite being rather prominent on football hoardings and in telly adverts. It makes it the worst performing instalment in the series to date, with the original entering at three and the sequel at one.

Unreal Tournament 3 faired a little better, returning to the top flight at nine thanks to the freshly released PS3 version.

The other new entry in the chart was Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, which managed a rather disappointing first week at 37.

Otherwise the charts were rather predictable. Call of Duty 4 continued its well deserved success to hold on at two, Brain Training climbed to three, Devil May Cry 4 fell to four and Wii Play took five.

Game Party did well to jump from 15 to six, Turok fell to seven like a dying dinosaur, FIFA 08 was at eight and The Simpsons rounded the charts off at 10.

The UK All-Formats Top 40:

1. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii, DS)
2. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS)
3. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
4. Devil May Cry 4 (PS3, Xbox 360)
5. Wii Play (Wii)
6. Game Party (Wii)
7. Turok (PS3, Xbox 360)
8. FIFA 08 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
9. Unreal Tournament 3 (PS3, PC)
10. The Simpsons Game (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
11. FIFA Street 3 (Xbox 360, PS3, DS)
12. Cooking Mama 2 (Wii, DS)
13. Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360, PS3)
14. Burnout: Paradise (PS3, Xbox 360)
15. More Brain Training From Dr Kawashima (DS)
16. Need For Speed: ProStreet (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
17. Sight Training (DS)
18. Professor Kageyama's Maths Training (DS)
19. Ratatouille (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, DS, PSP, GBA)
20. Carnival: Funfair Games (Wii)
21. Cooking Mama (Wii, DS)
22. Guitar Hero III: Legend of Rock (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, DS)
23. Conflict: Denied Ops (PS3, PC, Xbox 360)
24. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
25. 42 All-Time Classics (DS)
26. WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
27. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PC, DS, PSP)
28. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS)
29. PDC World Championship Darts 2003 (PC, Wii, PS2)
30. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, DS, PSP)
31. Ben 10: Protector of Earth (Wii, PS2, PSP, DS)
32. Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)
33. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
34. The Sims 2 (PC, PS2, GameCube, Xbox, GBA, DS, PSP)
35. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (Wii)
36. Football Manager 2008 (PC, Mac)
37. Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (Wii)
38. The Sims 2: Castaway (Wii, PS2, PSP, DS)
39. MySims (Wii, DS)
40. Big Brain Academy (DS)

...

via Games Industry


Sony has firmly distanced itself from a listing on hmv.com that puts the price and release date of PlayTV at GBP 99.99 (EUR 130) on March 28.

"We have not confirmed the price and release date of PlayTV to anyone, and that includes retailers," a Sony spokesperson told our siter site Eurogamer.net.

PlayTV is a digital TV tuner accessory for PlayStation 3 that uses the console's hard drive to record broadcasts.

It's due for release in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK later this year, and the company has recently demonstrated how the hardware will not be restricted by copy protection.

Although no official date and price has been announced, it's expected it to arrive later than March, and possibly cheaper than GBP 99.99. ...

via Computer and Video Games


In between solving Britain's obesity crisis and teaching Doctors how to perform surgery, the Wii is now helping burn victims boost their recovery process.

Doctors in South-East England are offering patients sessions on the console, in order to bring back flexibility to damaged areas.


According to the BBC, the Wii has also helped a boy who was struck by lightning, kept residents of a Welsh care home physically and mentally active, and is being touted as an aide to recovering stroke victims.

Maybe it's just because we caught the Sarah Chronicles pilot last week, but the idea of a Wii in every home, everywhere, is quite unnerving.

Mark our words - a nuclear apocalypse will soon reign down on upon us and from the ashes will rise the machines... all in the form of Italian plumbers shouting "Let's-a-go!" ...

via Computer and Video Games


Nintendo of American president Reggie Fils-Aime has said that Super Smash Bros. Brawl will not be coming to Europe until the Autumn.

Speaking to 1UP, Reggie answered a question regarding why Wii Fit and Mario Kart was coming to Europe first by saying, "Yeah, but they don't get Smash Brothers until fall."

Reggie cited the reason as a production problem, claiming that Nintendo would have to open and convert new factories in order to step up disc duplication, which would no doubt prove costly and wasteful in the long run.

Sorry Europe - looks like you'll (we'll) have to be content with Mario Kart for the time being.


A total letdown for folks in the UK and Europe wanting to get this game. ...

via Eurogamer


It's official - the Wii has gone so "mainstream" it's now hanging out at Hollywood's biggest globally televised circle jerk.

As you probably know it was the Oscars last night, and lots of films won various awards. It was an unexpectedly poor show for Britain as Keira Knightley's tits won none of the 48 categories they were nominated in.

But it was a bumper night for Nintendo in global advertising terms. As the awards ceremony resumed following one commercial break, Jon Stewart off of satirical US news programme The Daily Show appeared on stage playing Wii tennis.

According to News.com, "It was a funny moment, and in keeping with Stewart's contemporary wit."

Judge for yourself by watching Stewart's tennis skills in action over on YouTube. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Sony has up its sleeves a top-secret game headed to PS3 in 2009 that will apparently showcase a new standard in "story-telling and immersion" on games consoles.

The BBC reports having been shown supposedly "in-game" footage of the super-confidential title, but has been sworn to secrecy.


He goes on to add: "In fact, the game is such a secret that when I mentioned the game to Phil Harrison last week he was unsure at first whether even to admit the title existed. When I explained I had been shown it under strict Non Disclosure Agreement terms he looked relieved."

Being careful not to reveal any specific details, he goes on to say: "I don't mean to be a tease - all I can say is that I was left speechless.


Hopefully it won't turn out to be another CGI 'target tech' trailer like the early Killzone 2 footage. And hopefully it's God of War III. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony expects Resistance 2 to go "toe-to-toe against Gears of War 2" in the battle for your money this Christmas, according to US VP of product marketing Scott Steinberg.

I think one of the biggest games for us will be Resistance 2. We expect that, in November, to go toe-to-toe against Gears of War 2," Steinberg told GamesIndustry.biz during GDC.

"It will be our third-generation PS3 product. Insomniac, having shipped Resistance 1, quietly sold a million units. And then Ratchet & Clank last fall. This is the third on their technology shipping in November."

Steinberg also explained Sony's low GDC profile. "It just felt stronger coming from so many different high-calibre partners as opposed to self-congratulatory announcements from ourselves that the war is over and the standards battle is complete, and we have a standard and it is us," he said, referring to the recent HD-DVD discontinuation.

"It just felt like a keynote would be a little bit over the top," he added.

You can read the full Scott Steinberg interview on GamesIndustry.biz. ...

via Eurogamer


A Sony spokesperson has told Eurogamer he believes that LittleBigPlanet is "potentially our biggest Blu-ray release of 2008".

Asked about Sony's plans for the Media Molecule game, marketing man Nick Robinson - a senior product manager at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe - confirmed the title will be released in September on Blu-ray disc only.

He left no doubt that Sony is giving the unusual, innovative mix of platform game and content creator the full blockbuster-release treatment. "This isn't a Warhawk or a Tekken: Dark Resurrection," he said, mentioning two games Sony has made available for download on the PlayStation Network. "This is a triple-A Blu-ray title."

Robinson felt that Sony's confidence in LittleBigPlanet was backed up by the overwhelmingly positive reception it's met with so far. He also confirmed the game will have a very substantial offline Story mode to justify the price for those less interested in its community and content-creation aspects.

Certainly, today's demonstration hasn't dimmed our own (massive) enthusiasm for LittleBigPlanet. Check back soon for full hands-on impressions. ...