via Games Industry


Take-Two's chairman has responded to the BBFC's decision to seek judicial review of the Video Appeals Committee's decision overturning the ban on Manhunt 2 in the UK.

The game was originally banned by the BBFC back in June, despite the fact that the organisation approved the original Manhunt game with an 18-plus certification in 2003.

Take-Two appealed the BBFC ruling, which was recently overturned by the Video Appeals Committee on a 4-3 vote.

Rather than granting Manhunt 2 an 18-plus rating, however, the BBFC applied for judicial review.

...

via Games Industry


Nintendo's DS Brain Training games have topped the charts in both Spain and Germany.

Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training is at number one in Spain, with sequel More Brain Training taking the coveted spot in Germany.

Neither the Spanish or German top ten has any PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 games, with Wii, PlayStation 2 and DS the dominant formats.


The top ten for each country follows:

Spain, week ended December 9
1. More Brain Training (DS)
2. WWE Smackdown Vs RAW 2008 (PS2)
3. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS2)
4. Imagina Ser Mama (DS)
5. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS)
6. Imagina Ser Disenadora De Moda (DS)
7. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)
8. Mario Party (DS)
9. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
10. WWE Smackdown Vs RAW 2008 (PSP)


Germany, week ended December 2
1. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
2. More Brain Training (DS)
3. High School Musical - Sing It (PS2)
4. Need for Speed Pro Street (PS2)
5. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
6. FIFA 08 (PS2)
7. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC)
8. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
9. Wii Play (Wii)
10. Need for Speed Pro Street (PC)
All data supplied by Media-Control GfK International ...

via Computer and Video Games


Two things stand out in the FlatOut series - insane amounts of destruction and the rag-doll mini games, and these screens show both of those in full effect on the PSP sequel, FlatOut Head On.

It's no wonder it looks good - it's one of the few games lining up to take full advantage of the increased processing power of the PSP running in the new 333Mhz setting (which God of War will also use when it hits the portable).

The finished game promises "nine different game modes, including carnage challenges, full career, destruction derbies, multiplayer party mode and the bone-crunching ragdoll stunt mode". Sounds cool.

Look for it in stores in Q1 2008.


Screenshots ...

via Computer and Video Games


Nintendo Japan has updated its Virtual Console website page, sparking speculation that the platform holder will imminently expand its offering of classic titles from systems of old.

As reported by Kotaku, the redesigned site now displays eight console boxes despite the fact that there are only six systems currently supported on the Wii's Virtual Console, which enables Wii owners to download classic titles from older systems such as its NES and SNES consoles.

Kotaku goes on to speculate that Master System games could be next to be added to the Virtual Console.

At the end of November Nintendo's Shinji Hatano revealed that the company had made $33 million (3.5 billion yen) from 7.8 million Virtual Console downloads. "We're currently unsure if [the 3.5 billion yen figure] is a lot or low. They're not bad figures," he added.

While Virtual Console revenues only made up a fraction of Kyoto-based Nintendo's first half sales, which totaled 694 billion yen, $33 million isn't to be sneered at.

Although it's only a possibility at the moment, it seems only natural that the firm would be planning to expand its Virtual Console service. It's probably only a matter of when, and whether this redesign indicates that the move to do so could be made sooner rather than later. ...

via Eurogamer


One is a flawed mercenary and the other is a medicated psychopath, but that hasn't stopped Kane & Lynch from making their way to Xbox Live in demo form, having appeared on PlayStation Network earlier this month.

We left our Xbox 360 at home today because it's cold and we wanted to walk down the road with our hands in our pockets, so we can't tell you what's in it, but we can tell you that the description promises "hard-edged criminal action" in addition to "back-stabbing online", which sounds about right.

When it's assembled on your hard disk it will be occupying 520.04MB according to the fastidious Major Nelson, which compares favourably albeit irrelevantly to however big the other one was on PSN.

Anyway, you can learn more about Kane & Lynch: Dead Men in our Kane & Lynch: Dead Men review, where Kristan argues that it delivers on some counts, but not enough others to help it stand out from other "duck and cover" shooters like Gears of War and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. ...

via Games Industry


Take-Two has announced in a conference call that it intends to release more exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV episodes for the Xbox 360 in 2009.

The company revealed earlier this year that it would be supplying two extra episodes for Microsoft's home console in 2008, but this is the first time it has spoken of extra content beyond the initial deal with Microsoft.

"In fiscal 2009 we'll also be offering additional episodic content for Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360," confirmed Ben Feder, CEO of Take-Two.

The publisher also reiterated the full game will be released next year, with two exclusive episodes due before the end of 2008.

"We're eagerly anticipating the release of Grand Theft Auto IV in our second quarter. The game looks terrific and we're confident it will be every bit as ground-breaking as previous titles," added Feder. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Yesterday's PS3 firmware updates packs a nice little surprise Sony didn't mention - it enables PS1 gameplay via Remote Play on your PSP.

Just to clarify, that means that you can play PS1 games that are loaded onto your PS3 hard drive on your PSP via a wireless connection, including via the internet.

Why is this cool? Because you can stuff your PS3 hard drive full of PS1 games and play them wherever you are in the world, via the internet on your portable.

It works with PS1 game discs, too, but you'll obviously need to have loaded the disc into your PS3 before you left the house, unless you have a super game-loading robot at home that can do it for you.

You will need to have updated your PS3 to yesterdays 2.10 firmware first though, and your PSP will need firmware version 3.72 or later (3.80 was also released yesterday). ...

via Computer and Video Games


After an eternal wait for Sensible World of Soccer to arrive on Xbox Live Arcade, it's finally arrived this morning only to be pulled from XBL hours after its release.

The problem is all down to a bug in the game that signs you out of Xbox Live and refuses to let you sign back in until you manually returned to the dashboard. You'd think Codies would've had time to test this stuff in its massive dev time, but obviously not.

After an explosion of complaints on the Codemasters and Official Xbox websites Sensi has been pulled from Xbox Live Marketplace with no word on when it'll return. Yet again we're left waiting.

Microsoft said in a statement: "It has come to our attention that an incorrect version of Sensible World of Soccer was made available on Xbox LIVE Arcade... which has since been taken down. This version incorrectly disconnected users that attempted to connect to Xbox LIVE.


In the meantime this week's arcade line-up leaves us with Tempest, which at least isn't as expensive (and confusing) as Minter's copy cat Space Giraffe. Hopefully, it'll be back soon. ...

via Games Industry


According to data released by The NPD Group, Activision was the number one US console and handheld publisher for the first eleven months of calendar 2007.

The company increased its market share to a record 16.8 per cent, a 7.9 per cent increase over the same period last year.

"We continue to see strong consumer response to our wholly owned and internally developed titles - Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," said Robert Kotick, Activision's chairman and CEO.

"We are well positioned to continue our leadership position through the remainder of the year and are on track to delivering another record year of revenue growth and the most profitable year in our history."

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare were the first and second best-selling titles, respectively, across all platforms in the US for the month of November.

Guitar Hero has remained the best-selling franchise in the US since January, according to The NPD Group. ...