via Games Industry


Sony's Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has made its debut in the Japanese charts at number three, selling 116,000 copies according to data from Media Create.

However, it's the only PlayStation 3 title in the top twenty, with Nintendo Wii and DS product clogging up the charts for the week ended December 16.

Mario Party DS is at number one with 180,000 sales over the seven day period, while Wii Fit is at two with 124,000 units sold, taking it past half a million sales since release.

There are two PlayStation 2 games in the top twenty from Konami and Bandai Namco, and one PSP title – Sony's Hot Shots Golf sequel.


The Japanese top twenty follows:

1. Mario Party DS (DS)
2. Wii Fit (Wii)
3. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)
4. Prof. Layton and Pandora's Box (DS)
5. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
6. Dragon Quest IV (DS)
7. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
8. Wi Sports (Wii)
9. Wii Play (Wii)
10. Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon: The Labyrinth of Forgotten Time (Wii)
11. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 (PS2)
12. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
13. Powerful Pro-kun Pocket 10 (DS)
14. Kirarin Revolution (DS)
15. Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS)
16. Mario Kart DS (DS)
17. Taiko Drum Master (DS)
18. Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon: Shadow Expedition Party (DS)
18. Hot Shots Golf Portable 2 (PSP)
20. SD Gundam G Generation Spirits (PS2) ...

via Kotaku


NiGHTS fans have been waiting for a proper sequel to the Dreamcast cult classic for some time now. Sega's attempt to capitalize on Sonic's ring collection mania in a more robust 3D world, NiGHTS was a landmark game for the era.

Now NiGHTS has come back to the masses on the Wii in NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. So does its predecessor live up to expectations? Hit the jump for our Frankenreview: every thing you need to know about everything that is this one particular game.



GameTap
You can play Journey with several configurations. Each of them has a steep learning curve, but the remote-only setup will wear down your patience and send little kids crying to their mommas. It's just too tough to keep the remote cursor steady enough that it doesn't skitter around the atmosphere as you try to guide Nights past obstacles. Better to attach a nunchuk or plug-in a classic controller or even a GameCube controller, where the analog joystick eventually rewards your persistent thumb work with fairly smooth flying.

GameSpot
Visually speaking, Journey of Dreams is deliciously vibrant. Each dream world is unique and colorful without veering from the overall art design. From beautiful underwater vistas to a busy carnival complete with exploding fireworks, environments are created with painstaking care. Nights is smoothly animated, though in the ground levels, the children don't move as fluidly. Cutscenes are also well done and often poignant, thanks to expressive facial animations. You will encounter frequent moments where the frame rate dips a tad, but it doesn't usually get in the way of smooth flight.


1UP
This time, you assume the roles of William and Helen, two new tykes sucked into the dreamworld of Nightopia in order to better cope with the very modern pressure of living with unloving, often-absent parents. Unfortunately, you'll actually get to know these kids a little too intimately, thanks to an overabundance of heavy-handed, talky cut-scenes that assault the eyes (and ears) with amateurish production values. We definitely liked Nights when he/she was an enigmatic, laconic benefactor 10 years ago...now that it's more of a corny purple Mary Poppins that won't shut up, we're considerably less enamored.

GameZone
More than half of Journey of Dreams' stages are worth playing through multiple times. Unfortunately, there are a few stages that you won't care to revisit. It's not that they're significantly bad, but they're not much fun either. They lack the excitement and awe-inspiring feeling that the rest of the game offers.

IGN
You'll also find odd sections of loading that don't bring up screens or icons at all, instead keeping the screen fully white or black for upwards of 15 seconds with no explanation. If it wasn't for the music playing in that background we would have assumed the game was frozen. This lack of overall polish can be found in virtually any area...

It looks fairly passable unless you are a big NiGHTS fan, though Wii owners who've beaten Super Mario Galaxy may be looking for something new. ...

via eXophase.com


Mathieulh and Dark_AleX have confirmed that work on custom firmware 3.80 M33 has already commenced. There is no set release date at this time, but expect to see a release in the near future.

While working on 3.80 M33, the two found a peculiar string in the IPL’s payload file — pspbtcnf_03g.bin. What does this mean? Well, flashback to a few months ago when a string referring to pspbtcnf_02g.bin was found in firmware 2.71. Once the PSP Slim was finally released, it was discovered that “02g” was none other than a codename for the slim hardware.

Could “03g” be the codename for a third PSP hardware revision? Perhaps for the rumored PSP phone? It’s possible. ...

via Joystiq


Already bored with that CGI trailer for Resident Evil: Degeneration? Yeah, us too ... it's missing a certain something and, you know what? We think we know what that is. Dirt.

Wait, hear us out. As announced at TGS this year, the newly redubbed Final Fantasy Advent Children Complete won't be arriving on Blu-ray undisturbed. Oh no, it's been smeared through the mud, and then scratched by a horde of feral kittens. It's dirty and bloody and, well, we sorta like it. Get a peek at the trailer embedded above and wrestle with the mysteries that keep Cloud's hair so erect, even in this new, dirty revision.


Trailer here ...

via Computer and Video Games


The first images of the DS remake of Super NES classic Dragon Quest V has surfaced on the net, and it's looking pretty sweet.

Hardcore RPG fans will know the Dragon Quest games as one of the most popular RPG series' of all time in Japan, and a favourite among importers.

Developer ArtePiazza only released its re-cooked DS edition of DQIV in Japan last month, but their dual-screen remake of the sequel is already looking good - probably because it reuses many of the same assets.

DQV, originally 2D on the Super NES, was re-released on PS2 in 2004 (in US only, where it's known as Dragon Warrior V) in 3D, but is returning to its 2D roots on DS, albeit with a significant facelift.

The story, set in a world called DraQue, follows the events in 20 years of the main hero's life, in which he finds himself in all sorts of monster-related troubles, battling creatures, who join his party when defeated (like Pokemon).

Check out these first screens in Japanese Jump magazine, (via NeoGAF). ...

via Computer and Video Games


After well over a year in the dark, a new Banjo-Kazooie image has emerged in the form of a Rare Christmas Card.

Alright, it's not exactly a screenshot but if anything the classy card pic gives us a hint at want kind of art direction Rare are taking for the next Banjo, which we can only assume will finally arrive on Xbox 360 next year.

As is tradition for the chaps at Rare, there's even a few cheeky digs in there like the stocking with "KI3" on the front.

Just give it to us, Rare. And you should have out some red lights on that Xbox 360!

One screenshot here ...

via Joystiq


Much like being trapped within the confines of a stereotypical Star Trek episode, watching Duke Nukem Forever's latest tease is an unwelcome encounter with your favorite industry's very own temporal loop. We've all been through the cycle of doubt and anticipation many times over, hurled back to the beginning whenever 3D Realms decides to switch engines, scrap designs and slam the big ol' reset button on George Broussard's desk.

This particular peek at 3D Realms' perpetually approaching wolf offers exactly what you'd expect: bulging biceps, tentacled aliens and absolutely no assurances that your ten-year wait will be worth it. Until we see an actual game, consider our reserves of faith and interest thoroughly depleted.


Trailer here ...

via Computer and Video Games


Square Enix has confirmed that PSP updates of both Final Fantasy I and II will be released in Europe on February 8.

The tinkered originals feature updated visuals and character art, new dungeons, 16:9 widescreen support (it would look a bit dodgy on PSP otherwise) and an updated camera view which make things look a bit more modern.

The NES original starts when four young warriors, each possessing a crystal, are summoned to restore the world's harmonious elemental balance. The second game has a malevolent emperor summon monsters from a demonic realm to take over the world.

Those were the days when Square Enix's lead characters didn't look like lady boys, and it's definitely worth checking out if you weren't around in the 1980s. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Coming early next year for Wii and PS2, which says a lot about the audience Sega is targeting with this one, is Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity.

The PR blurb boasts "never-before seen worlds with edge-of-your-seat racing intensity and all-new gravity controlling moves".

We not so sure about "edge-of-your-seat racing" but we do like surprises. Take a look at the 'Wii' movie and below you'll find shots of the PS2 version.


Screenshots for Playstation 2 here
Trailer for the Wii console here ...