via Kotaku


I think it's probably safe to assume that most stores sold of out their Wii pretty damn quickly yesterday. I haven't yet tried calling around, but on Sunday I did swing by one of the local Targets to pick up some non-game related stuff for an upcoming trip. Just for fun I hopped on by the game section to see how things were going. Not only had the store sold out of their Wii stock, they had sold out of Remotes and Nunchucks. One of the employees I talked to said they had an amazing 160 Wii in stock Sunday morning. All of them were gone by 8:15 a.m., he said.

I overheard him talking to two parents, tragically late to the Wii consumer bloodbath earlier that day. They first tentatively asked about the Wii and then, when they found out they missed the boat, said they weren't even sure their son wanted a Wii. The sales clerk dove right in.


In the end I think the parents decided to leave empty handed. I almost told them about the GameStop rain checks, but changed my mind. Who wants a piece of paper for Christmas? ...

via Kotaku




In many ways, many, many ways eBay is an albatross around the necks' of gamers. This is most evident around the holidays when the demand for consoles and games goes through the rough.

Over the weekend there appeared to be another sell out of Wii consoles. On Friday, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime announced that seven retailers-Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Kmart, Toys R Us and Circuit City- would be throwing a lot of Wii consoles out on their shelves over the weekend to try and sate the appetite of games and their families.

But judging by the obvious spike in eBay listings of Wii consoles, I think it's fair to say the only thing sated was greed. From 9 a.m. Eastern Sunday to 9 p.m. Eastern Sunday alone more than 13,500 Wii consoles were listed for sale in the U.S. on eBay. Coincidence? I can't imagine.

Note: These numbers might deviate a little from 100% complete authentic scientific goodness, but the trend is still relevant. ...

via Eurogamer


US magazine Nintendo Power has revealed new details about the upcoming Mario Kart game for Nintendo Wii, most notably that it will feature 16 new tracks and as-yet undisclosed new weapons.

Mario Kart Wii - announced at E3 this year - sees the famed racing series make the transition to Wii, gaining a motion-sensor steering system based on holding the Wiimote with its buttons facing upward, a bit like Excite Truck, motorbikes and online racing.

As previously revealed, online games will support up to 12 players. Nintendo Power's preview adds that they will be able to pound one another with traditional power-ups like Koopa shells and lightning bolts, and fire themselves ahead with mushrooms.

It also states that the stunts possible (e.g. a motorbike wheelie) will have some sort of practical pay-off, although there's no further detail, and that the 16 new courses will be joined by some spiced-up old ones.

Other gameplay details were scant, and there wasn't any word on the steering wheel attachment due to be bundled with the game when it launches next year.

Even so, there isn't all that long to go, with Nintendo recently suggesting that Europe can expect to swing its arms at it as early as Q2 2008. ...

via Computer and Video Games


It's late on a Friday afternoon and we've just returned from our annual Xmas beano with our gaming chums down in Bath and yes, thank you, the hangover's doing very nicely and threatening to melt our frontal lobes.

But just time - before we sink into a dribbling gelatinous puddle - to drop you a little reminder about next week's great Frontlines: Fuel of War beta giveaway.

So don't forget to tune in to CVG at 8pm GMT on Wednesday 19th December, when we'll be giving away both downloadable code and the beta keys you'll need to activate it, for the multiplayer beta for Kaos Studios' intriguing new futuristic shooter.

As a little weekend treat, we've uploaded a few new screens for you to sample, plus if you'd like to get our very latest impressions on the game, don't forget to check out our recent Xbox 360 preview which you can sample by simply clicking here.


Screenshots ...

via Computer and Video Games


Ubisoft is expecting Assassin's Creed to hit five million unit sales in its fiscal 2007 to 2008 year, which ends March 31, 2008.

Describing current sales of the roof-top hopping back-stab-'em-up as a "record performance", the publisher's said that the game topped two and a half million sales worldwide in its first four weeks on shop shelves.

Apparently it's "the fastest-selling new video game intellectual property in the US ever".

Already released on Xbox 360 and PS3 (review), a PC version of Assassin's Creed is due to release next year. Hopefully in a more finished state than the console versions. ...

via IGN


A little over a year after the original first hit Japan, Blue Dragon is in the news again, this time with a first look at a portable spinoff. First announced in early October, Blue Dragon DS has at long last shown its true form in the latest issue of Japan's Shounen Jump.

Blue Dragon DS appears to be a totally different type of game from the Xbox 360 original. Instead of a turn-based Japanese RPG, DS owners can look forward to a 2D realtime party-based strategy game. Details are scarce, but the game appears to put a party of ally characters on the battle field against an army of enemies commanded by a large boss.

While the basic gameplay systems appear to be different, Blue Dragon DS will share some things in common with its older brother. The main characters from the original are all returning, with Shu once again in the lead. They will be accompanied by their shadows, who will apparently play an even bigger role in battle.

The DS title also appears to maintain the original's high level of production values. The game will feature high quality CG sequences between battles.

Developed by Mistwalker and Lost Odyssey developer Feel Plus, and published by AQ Interactive, Blue Dragon will hit Japan in March. ...

via IGN


After countless delays Nokia has revealed that its revamped N-Gage platform will finally go live next week. Electric Pig reports that the mobile giant is putting the finishing touches to the games service as we speak, with punters able to download new games and compete against other people from next Tuesday.

N-Gage will launch with a somewhat limited line-up of games, including Brothers in Arms, The Sims 2 Pets and FIFA 08, with a broader range of titles promised shortly after launch. What's more, you don't need a pasty-shaped handset to play them either, because the N-Gage service is designed to eventually work with the entire range of Nokia's N-series of phones – although initially it's only compatible with the N81, with N95 and N93 owners able to get in on the action at the beginning of next year. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Ghostbusters on Wii is its own beast compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game.

According to first details appearing from nGamer, the Wii version essentially turns your Wii Remote into a proton pack, meaning a) an extra dimension to the gameplay and b) you'll be waving it around to snare ghosts with beams and, more importantly for destruction addicts, smash up scenery.


It also, first screenshots reveal, boasts a different art style to its PS3 and Xbox 360 cousins, Ghostbusters on Wii featuring a far more cartoon-ish look.

On top of the single-player game, Ghostbusters multiplayer on Wii also plays to the console's strengths.


AND Ghostbusters on Wii features a ton of mini-games, including a 30-second battle to bag 100 ghosts - which is apparently a bit like Hungry Hippos. ...

via IGN


The Nintendo Wii is currently the only gaming system unable to give players the ability to voice chat over the internet. Though a few games have been released on the Wii featuring online play, none allow players to converse through them. It's a frustrating limitation.

During a question and answer session in a Nintendo conference call this morning, Reggie Fils-Aime addressed this issue.

According to Fils-Aime, the system is clearly capable of this function, and Nintendo is constantly adding and tweaking features of the Wii system through system updates. The issue boils down to locking down the specific technologies and getting the specific peripheral to allow voice chatting.

Fils-Aime noted that, since Nintendo found this tech and peripheral on the Nintendo DS, he "wouldn't be surprised at all" if the feature appeared on Wii. "It's something we value and constantly look at." ...