via Computer and Video Games


Nintendo has just released eighteen new screenshots for Wii Chess. Yep, it looks like chess to us...

The pack is full of perhaps the most compressive set of screen grabs we've ever had the pleasure of receiving.

Don't take our word for it. See for yourself. Witness the glory of the Wii start-up menu when a Wii Chess disk is in the disc drive. See an in-game shot of what the strap-warning screen will look like. Pour over the internet connection error in all its graphical glory.

We can only think of two options for such a strange collection of screens. Either they were taken by a really overenthusiastic work experience person, or Wii Chess is so boring that the marketing department simply threw everything out in attempt to show at least one thing interesting.

We sincerely hope it's the former.


Screenshots here ...

via Computer and Video Games


Virtual Console enthusiasts have two titles to choose from this week: Star Tropics and King of Fighters '94.

Originally released on the NES, Star Tropics melds adventure and RPG elements into an unpredictable adventure yarn.

Combining space aliens, Indiana Jones and the gameplay of Zelda, there's certainly worse ways to spend a few quid. But there's definitely better ways, too.

Second up is the NeoGeo fighting game The King of Fighters '94. The first in The King of Fighters series, this beat 'em up pits popular characters from other well-known franchises against each other.

The battle system is also notable, clearly inspiring most that followed it. Instead of using a standard best two out of three rounds fight set-up, players choose one of eight teams, with each team made up of three characters.

To win, all members of the other team must be eliminated before all your fighters are knocked out.

Star Tropics is rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence and costs 500 Wii points, whilst The King of Fighters '94 is Rated T for Teen-Animated Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Alcohol & Tobacco Reference, Violence. All of which can be yours for 900 Wii Points. ...

via Eurogamer


Konami has revealed a fancy new Yu-Gi-Oh! card battling game for DS due out this March.

It will go hand-in-hand with the real-life 2008 World Championship, and recreate over 2,000 of the cards that line the palms of spotty teenage tacticians.

Interesting additions come from wireless capabilities to take on friends from all over the earth or in your house - either on your own or in pairs - as well a voice chat system to talk about things before battle begins.

Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 will have its own single player to get to grips with, too, in case you are a bit flustered about airing your abilities so soon, and you will be given three special limited edition cards to use in real-life as coasters or as motorbike noise-makers on your BMX.

Tom wanted me to tell you about it because "these aren't actually bad games", as you can tell from our World Chapionship 2007 review, but you have a long road ahead of you if you want to beat 2007 World Champion Toro Andres from Chile. ...

via Eurogamer


Konami has revealed a fancy new Yu-Gi-Oh! card battling game for DS due out this March.

It will go hand-in-hand with the real-life 2008 World Championship, and recreate over 2,000 of the cards that line the palms of spotty teenage tacticians.

Interesting additions come from wireless capabilities to take on friends from all over the earth or in your house - either on your own or in pairs - as well a voice chat system to talk about things before battle begins.

Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 will have its own single player to get to grips with, too, in case you are a bit flustered about airing your abilities so soon, and you will be given three special limited edition cards to use in real-life as coasters or as motorbike noise-makers on your BMX.

Tom wanted me to tell you about it because "these aren't actually bad games", as you can tell from our World Chapionship 2007 review, but you have a long road ahead of you if you want to beat 2007 World Champion Toro Andres from Chile. ...

via Eurogamer


Majesco has come up with a bizarre idea to let you build your own house using the Wii.

Dubbed Our House, you erect your dwelling from start to end, using the Wiimote to lay foundations, hammer in nails, saw wood, paint and decorate, and generally do the sort of jobs you pay someone to take care of because good god it is hard work.

Still, here you will be shopping for raw materials in the Home Store, delving into mini-games to earn money so you can maximize the value of your gaff before your friends do. Once finished, you can pop your creation in an online neighbourhood thanks to the Wii Connect 24 channel.

For families or people with friends there's a four-player build-off to go absolutely bonkers over, as well as a Party mode to cut to the chase and get straight into mini-game mischief.

Our House is being developed by Budcat, who most recently ported Guitar Hero III to PS2, and it is tentatively due out sometime early next year. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Rockstar has confirmed March 7 as the UK release date for its revamped version of Bully, titled Bully: Scholarship Edition.

According to IGN, the updated title will include eight new missions, four new lessons, new items and clothing, new two-player offline mini-games and unlockable Achievements on Xbox 360.

We off to see the new-look Bully later this week, so make a note in your diaries that we'll have first look action from the new versions early next week. ...

via Games Industry


Microsoft has revealed a number of user statistics for Xbox Live now that the popular online gaming service has registered over 10 million users.

Unsurprisingly the most popular game based on Xbox Live connectivity in 2007 was Bungie's Halo 3, even though the game wasn't released until late September. Last week, Microsoft stated that the game has sold over 8.1 million units worldwide.

Third party titles also registered highly on the service, with Epic's Gears of War, Activision's Call of Duty 3 and 4 and Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas all in the top five.

The majority of best-selling Xbox Live Arcade titles for 2007 were familiar franchises and retro ports rather than original titles.

Konami/Ubisoft's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Arcade was the most popular seller, with Worms, Bomberman, Castlevania and Uno all in the top five.

And of the original Xbox titles still played via the service, multiplayer shooters were the most popular genre. Halo 2 was the number one game, with Star Wars Battlefront 2, Counter-Strike, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat and Doom 3 all in the top five.


The top ten Xbox Live games of 2007 follow:

Xbox 360 titles (unique users):

1. Halo 3
2. Gears of War
3. Call of Duty 4
4. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
5. Call of Duty 3
6. Crackdown
7. Oblivion
8. Guitar Hero II
9. Forza Motorsport 2
10. Lost Planet

Top Xbox Live arcade titles (sales):

1. TMNT 1989 Arcade
2. Worms
3. Castlevania: SOTN
4. Uno
5. Bomberman Live
6. 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
7. Sonic the Hedgehog
8. Pinball FX
9. Geometry Wars FX
10. Texas Hold 'Em

Original Xbox titles (unique users):

1. Halo 2
2. Star Wars Battlefront 2
3. Counter-Strike
4. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
5. Doom 3
6. Forza Motorsport
7. Madden NFL 07
8. Conker: Live and Reloaded
9. Call of Duty 3
10. Rainbow Six 3 ...

via IGN


Square Enix has today announced details of its schedule for the fresh end of 2008, with Final Fantasy I and II on the PSP and Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings on the DS both being given firm street dates.

Details of the release dates for other UK-bound Square Enix titles are somewhat more vague, with DS titles Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates and The World Ends With You due as the leaves begin to sprout, while we can expect Odin Sphere on PS2 and Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker on DS sometime before said leaves turn brown.

The full list follows:

8 February 2008
Final Fantasy I & Final Fantasy II (PSP)

15 February 2008
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (Nintendo DS)

Spring 2008
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (Nintendo DS)
The World Ends With You (Nintendo DS)
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (Nintendo Wii)

Early 2008
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (Nintendo DS)
Odin Sphere (PlayStation 2) ...

via Computer and Video Games


The ten best-selling Xbox Live Arcade games of 2007 have been revealed thanks to Mr Major Nelson's blog. They are, in a very particular order:

1. TMNT 1989 Arcade
2. Worms
3. Castlevania: SOTN
4. UNO
5. Bomberman LIVE
6. 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
7. Sonic The Hedgehog
8. Pinball FX
9. Geometry Wars Evolved
10. Texas Hold 'em

Seems like the oldies are still the goodies in terms of making you part with your cold, hard-earned cash.

Plenty of more retro action to come this year, we hope. Like Sabre Wulf! Tell us what you want to see below. ...