via Joystiq


According to X3F, who heard it from Megatonik, who saw it on ScoreHero, who cribbed it from scans on GameFaqs, OXM like totally printed all the Rock Band DLC for March in its new issue. We've confirmed the tracks are revealed in an advertisement for Xbox Live that was placed by Microsoft. There's no mention of prices, but if March releases follow the general trend, it should be 440 MS points ($5.50) for a pack and 160 MS point ($2) for a single song.

Week of March 4: Thrash Pack

• Blinded By Fear - At The Gates
• Thrasher - Evile
• Shadow World - Haunted

Week of March 11:

• Shooting Star - Bad Company *Cover*
• Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Message In A Bottle - Police

Week of March 18: Nine Inch Nails Pack

• March Of The Pigs
• The Collector
• The Perfect Drug

Week of Mar. 25: Metal Pack

• Wrathchild - Ironmaiden *Cover*
• Supernaut - Black Sabbath *Cover*
• Fuel - Metallica

That's great ... now about February? ...

via Eurogamer


Poker Smash will be the next game released on Xbox Live Arcade, developer Void Star Creations has revealed on its website.

Due out on 6th February, and reportedly set to cost 800 Microsoft Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60), Poker Smash is a poker-themed puzzle game.

But what does that mean, Internet? Apparently it sees cards moving up the screen in a Tetris-style play area, which you can dispose of by matching them into poker hands like flush, straight, four-of-a-kind, etc.

You're right, that actually sounds a lot more interesting than just another poker game - after all, we've already got Texas Hold 'em for that.

Look out for our review of Poker Smash around this time next week, and don't forget that we're also expecting Lode Runner and Brain Challenge in the near future. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Microsoft has said it has no plans to "develop Halo Wars for Windows Vista at this time", in response to yesterday's gossip.

Rumour circulating yesterday suggested that the Xbox 360 RTS would be confirmed for PC at next month's GDC in San Francisco, and that Microsoft would be including cross-platform support in the game.

But not so, according to the company. Who doesn't comment on rumour and speculation.

"Halo Wars is being developed from the bottom up for the Xbox 360 and its control scheme to ensure that we deliver a groundbreaking console RTS experience," it has now told IGN.

"Given that, we have no plans to develop Halo Wars for Windows Vista at this time."

Yesterday Microsoft told us it didn't comment on rumour and speculation. Come on ladies and gents, make your mind up. ...

via Computer and Video Games


We can't play flOw on PS3 for more than ten minutes without coming over all sleepy - it's Pikmin for its sleep-inducing tranquillity - and now the drowsy gaming is coming to PSP.

Anyone who's played the PS3 game will know what to expect because it sounds like pretty much the same deal on the portable. "Explore the soothing depths of a living underwater environment, discover strange new organisms and embark on a journey of evolution," explains Sony.

"Freely glide around before diving down to the challenges beneath or aggressively consume food and compete with every surrounding creature," it adds.

So, no change then. Oddly, the update neglects to mention a price or release date, only that it'll be downloadable via the PlayStation Store for PC. But it's not on there yet - we checked.

We expect it'll go live in today's expected PSN update, which should happen later. We'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, here are the first screenshots of the portable version.


Screenshots ...

via Eurogamer


Nintendo has dismissed suggestions a 1st June date has been set for the UK release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl - despite said suggestions having appeared on the company's own website.

As reported by CVG, the SSBB gamepage on Nintendo UK's site yesterday gave a date of "01/06/2008". It's since been amended and now simply reads "2008".

Eurogamer contacted Nintendo to find out if this represented an accidental revelation of TRUTH or it was all just a big mistake.


Ah well. Super Smash Bros. Brawl is out now in Japan and (spoilers, mind) lots of new details about the game have already emerged. There are also plenty of videos to check out on the gamepage. ...

via Eurogamer


Dr Ryuta Kawashima, known to millions as him what did the Brain Training for DS, has revealed he hasn't made a single yen off the profits.

That's not because Nintendo's being mean, though - it's all his own choice.

As reported by AFP, 17 million Brain Training games have been sold around the globe, netting royalties of JPY 2.4 billion (GBP 11 million). Under the terms of his employment contract with Tohoku University, Kawashima could take up to half the proceeds while the rest would go to his college. But the good doctor said his annual salary of JPY 11 million (GBP 50,000) is plenty enough to live on.

"Not a single yen has gone in my pocket. Everyone in my family is mad at me but I tell them that if they want money, go out and earn it," he revealed.

Kawashima doesn't play Brain Training himself these days, reckoning the research work he does keeps his mind in shape. As for his body - "If there is time for physical exercise, I want to use it for research." So when he wanted to lose 20kg last year, Kawashima just stopped eating so many pies.

He's not too keen on his sons spending hours playing games either. They're banned from going near the things on weekdays, and only get one hour at weekends. Kawashima once destroyed a game disc when they broke the rules.

"What is scary about games is that you can kill as many hours as you want," he said. "I don't think playing games is bad in itself but it makes children unable to do what they should do such as study and communication with the family."

Apparently Kawashima has been fascinated by brains since he was a teenager. While most of us were listening to bad music and discovering self-love, he was thinking how to put "my brain in a computer so it would be around to see the last day of humanity".

These days Kawashima is working with Toyota to design a car that will help elderly people stay alert and avoid accidents. Better hurry up: "I'm confident I'll go senile. Researchers, especially those in medical fields, are said to die of what they are studying. Since I've been studying the brain, I'll die of a brain disease." Little hope for those of us likely to die of Wii mini-games then. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Final Fantasy fans who got excited over reports of FFXIII releasing in 2008 have sadly been the victims of poor translation, as Square Enix officially falsifies recent reports.

It was widely reported that, in an interview with Japanese Dengeki Magazine, series boss-man Motomu Toriyama stated the game would be ready for a 2008 release. Not so, however, as Square releases a statement to clarify: "Although information regarding the release date of FINAL FANTASY XIII has been reported by certain videogame websites, Square Enix itself has yet to make an official statement on this topic.

"Any reports of a confirmed release date are erroneous and should be disregarded. Square Enix will make an official announcement in the future concerning the release date when it has been determined," it added.

The correct translations, Square has pointed out, state that many more "revelations" will be made in 2008.

As we reported before Toriyama also expressed his wish to make a playable demo of the game to demonstrate the new battle system. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Rockstar Games founder Dan Houser has said the company expects an angry reaction from certain corners of the media when GTA IV is released this April. Really?

"I expect it because we've had so much of it in the past," Houser said at a recent game demonstration in North America.

The elusive company founder said that he thinks GTA and other violent games area "convenient enemy" for the mainstream media. "I wish people would treat video games the same as other media," he said. "They seem to not want to do that for reasons that I don't understand. It's a convenient enemy for people."

It's also convenient for Rockstar's time in the media spotlight and sales numbers, no doubt.

Speaking to The Canadian Press, Houser also decided to distance GTA IV from the more 'cartoony' parts of previous instalments.

"If the graphics are slightly cartoony, we make sure the writing is slightly cartoony to match that," he said. "Obviously, the graphics have gone closer to realism, so we wanted everything else to be closer to realism as well." ...

via Computer and Video Games


Wii disc slots will be glowing across the US this morning as Nintendo issues an update for the Check Mii Out channel.

The update applies a number of various tweaks and improvements to the Mii voting channel, including more streamlined ways to see all the Mii characters you've uploaded so far, the addition of parental controls within the channel, and the viewing of recent Mii's has been upped from 50 to 500. That should be enough to wade through.

As usual you will need to apply the update before you next use the channel. The patch can be found within the Wii Shop channel.

We'll be in touch with Nintendo about the update for us UK peeps when they're all at work. ...