via Computer and Video Games


For those C&C fans waiting for the classic franchise to make a debut on Nintendo's handheld, it might be worth noting that March 14 is the date you've been waiting for.

Command and Destroy takes its cues from Dune 2, Red Alert and Starcraft, and claims to bring that style of gameplay to the DS, says the release.

In typical RTS fashion, players acquire credits through the exploitation of oil and then use those credits to build an alien army to defeat a human colony, or a human one to fend off the invading alien hordes.

As well as a twenty-four mission strong single-player campaign, a multiplayer skirmish mode is available, for those who have fond memories of amassing a hundred units and sending them up against a mate's pitiful army.

The screenshots are not fantastic, but they're not that bad either. With a release date approaching fast, we'll make a few phone calls to see what more we can find out.


Screenshots ...

via Computer and Video Games


Foreign criminals (to the UK) are being given Nintendo Wiis and plasma televisions to keep them entertained before being deported to their home countries, The Telegraph is reporting.

Detainees at Colnbook Immigration Removal Center in Berkshire are serving time for offenses including rape and murder, but are treated to a Wii in some of the communal areas where they are hooked up to a 48" plasma TV.

We're not sure on the validity of these claims though, as some of the details just don't add up. For example, a source inside the centre told The Telegraph, "Some detainees have Nintendo Wiis. If the consoles go wrong staff are sent to the nearest Argos to pick up a replacement."

Go wrong? Sounds more like they're using Xbox 360s to us. Plus, can you even buy a Wii from Argos straight over the counter? We thought there was still a shortage going on?

Also, doesn't the government think videogames are a danger to society? Surely exposing rapists and murders to these games is a bad idea, unless Gordon Brown has implemented an A Clockwork Orange style overhaul to solve the immigration crisis we keep hearing about. ...

via IGN


Final Fantasy Versus XIII may be the most mysterious of the three known FFXIII projects, but, in a surprising twist, it's going to be the first one with a soundtrack! HMV Japan has posted a listing for a new soundtrack from Square Enix that will contain tracks from the TBA title.

The soundtrack is called Drammatica - The Very Best of Yoko Shimomura. Being released in celebration of Shimomura's 20th anniversary as a game music composer, the soundtrack will include selections chosen by Shimomura herself, re-recorded using overseas orchestras (overseas as in outside of Japan).

FF Versus XIII music is being included as a bonus.

Look for the Drammatica CD on March 26 at a cost of 3,000 yen. When contacting your favorite importer, ask for catalog number SQEX10112 on the Square Enix label. ...

via Joystiq


Representing a massive 100% increase over the number of Virtual Console games released last week, Operation Wolf and Columns III arrive on the Wii's retro download service today to give you your block-dropping, terrorist-killing fix.

• Operation Wolf (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Operation initiated! Rescue the prisoners! Mercilessly mow down terrorists as they run back and forth, stricken with panic! Marvel as the primitive sound effects form a hypnotic, pre-REZ beat!
• Columns III: Revenge of Columns (Genesis, 1-5 players, 800 Wii Points): We're not sure what you could have done to evoke the wrath of the columns, but the mean-spirited jewels are apparently out for revenge. Thankfully, years of Tetris exposure have refined you into a quick-thinking block murderer.

...

via Computer and Video Games


The blatantly in-development sequel to Gears of War is featured in some form in the next issue of US mag, GamePro. Don't get your knickers in a twist just yet; it could be a load of guesses.

Gears 2 appears twice on the magazine cover, which can be found over on the Gamepro website, once along the top of the magazine logo and once in a siderbar, in the form of a big gears cog logo with a '2' next to it.

Epic is still in bed and we don;t want to wake them, but Microsoft was kind enough to deliver a standard "no comment on rumour and speculation" to our inbox.

Just the fact that a dodgy-looking Rainbow Six Vegas 2 cover - and not Gears - forms the main hit and image of the issue sets off our alarm bells.

Surely if this was the world's first look at Epic's sequel it'd be flagged front and centre over R6? That's what we'd do anyway.

Either way, the increasingly loud Gears 2 chatter adds more fuel to the rumours that the follow-up will be making an appearance at next week's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Either way, there's not long to wait now.


Magazine scann here ...

via Joystiq


Do you like the concept of poker but feel perpetually bored by the not-so-visceral aesthetics of the game? Perhaps the gambling aspect always gets you down in the mouth (and wallet). As announced last week, Void Star Creations' puzzler Poker Smash will be this Wednesday's Xbox Live Arcade title. The game will, erm, smash its way onto the network February 6 at 4:00 a.m. ET for 800 MS points ($10). Unfortunately, that $10 is not an ante, and you can't win that money back with a good play.

Also coming this week is a free update to Crystal Quest that, according to the Gamerscore blog, will "add a crazy multiplier scheme to offer even higher scores." ...

via IGN


Fulfilling the commitment to fans to offer new downloadable content every week, Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the latest slate of downloadable tracks available for Rock Band. Starting the week of February 5, 2008 players can download 3 new tracks, which include "Roam" by the B-52s, "We Care a Lot" by Faith No More, and "Calling Dr. Love" by KISS. Details are as follows:

Release date:

Tuesday, February 5, 2008 (Microsoft)
Thursday, February 7, 2008 (Sony)

Tracks:

B-52's "Roam"
Faith No More "We Care a Lot"
KISS "Calling Dr. Love"

Price:

$1.99 per track

Locations: Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network


Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change.


In addition to the 58 songs that come packaged with Rock Band, Harmonix and MTV have been offering a robust calendar of new downloadable content including packs, full albums and individual tracks to satiate the desire for constantly refreshed Rock Band content. New music is available on a weekly basis. Recent downloadable content that has been offered has included tracks from iconic rock artists from all genres from Metallica and Black Sabbath to The Police and All American Rejects.

Rock Band allows online play and features that expand the boundaries of music gaming. Rock Band downloadable content is playable and integrated into setlists in all game modes including: Solo Tour, Band World Tour, head-to-head competition either locally or online, and from any Quickplay mode. In order to play downloadable content for head-to-head matches or multiplayer online, all players must own the same downloadable track. Downloadable content for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft will be available for purchase via Xbox Live Marketplace using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to Xbox 360's built in hard drive. Downloadable content for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system's version of Rock Band will be available for purchase on the PlayStation Store through the free PlayStation Network and is downloaded directly to PlayStation 3 system's built in hard drive. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Chatter of a 120GB PS3 rippled across the internet, with multiple sources claiming a 120GB console is imminent shortly. Sony won't confirm either way, but simply reminds us that if we really want a bigger hard drive we can upgrade it ourselves.

When asked about the rumours, SCE Australia boss Michael Ephraim admitted he wouldn't reveal such plans, even if he knew of any, before adding: "The hard drive issue, we've done it so you can upgrade the hard drive.


You can get 500GB external hard drives for around £80 these days. Bargain. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Devil May Cry 4 is coming to 360 and PS3 this Friday. That's good news mainly for the reason that it's an awesome game. You can look forward to the review later this week, or read this if you can't wait any longer. But there's a little issue of a MASSIVE installation process that forces all PS3 gamers to wait just under 22 mins before they can tuck in to Dante's finest.

You'd think there'd be a benefit after being forced to install nearly 5GB of game data, like shorter or even no loading times during the entire game. Funny thing is though, it doesn't make much difference to load times compared to the 360 version, that you can play straight away.

We clocked the entire install process at 21 minutes, 41 seconds.

Following that the opening load time on PS3 was five seconds against eight on 360. And then three seconds versus four, and four versus five seconds in following load screens, PS3 - 360. As you can see there's not much in it.

So over the course of an eight-to-ten hour game you might get your 21 minutes back over 360 players with ever-so-slightly shorter loading times. But really?

Time to put the stopwatch away and get back to playing the game. Check out in-game footage here.

While we're 'on topic', it's also being reported that (in Japan) the PS3 version of Devil May Cry 4 is outselling the 360 game 5-1. But that's because there are only six people with 360s in the country. It'll be much closer over here, if not the other way around. ...