via Games Industry


Electronic Arts' FIFA 08 is the best selling game in Germany and Spain, according to the latest data from Media Control GfK International.

FIFA 08 is at positions one, two and five in the Spanish charts, on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PSP respectively, and in Germany EA scores the first, fourth and fifth positions on PS2, PC and PS3.

First-party Nintendo titles continue to sell well across Europe, with both Brain Training and Pokemon Diamond in the top tens, while Microsoft's Halo 3 is also performing admirably in the regions.

The top ten best-selling games for Spain and Germany follow:

Spain, week ended October 14:
1. FIFA 08 (PS2)
2. FIFA 08 (PS3)
3. My Sims (DS)
4. WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2007 Platinum (PS2)
5. FIFA 08 (PSP)
6. More Brain Training (DS)
7. Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
8. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
9. Pokemon Diamond (DS)
10. Heavenly Sword (PS3)

Germany, week ended October 7:
1. FIFA 08 (PS2)
2. The Settlers (PC)
3. Command and Conquer: Tiberium Wars (PC)
4. FIFA 08 (PC)
5. FIFA 08 (PS3)
6. More Brain Training (DS)
7. Pokemon Diamond (DS)
8. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
9. World of Warcraft (PC)
10. Halo 3 (Xbox 360) ...

via Eurogamer


It's only been out in the USA and Japan for a matter of days and the stupid slack useless tosser postal service hasn't delivered my import copy yet, but Namco Bandai has already released downloadable premium content for owners of Beautiful Katamari based in Asia.

The four new levels - "Milky Way Constellations", "The Weaver Girl", "Shopping Spree" and "High-calorie Katamari", according to the Major - each cost 200 Microsoft points, which is about GBP 1.70 / EUR 2.33 in old money. In other words, it's four new levels for nearly seven quid. And this is just week one. What's the Japanese for "horse armour"?

Namco Bandai has said previously that it planned to offer premium downloadable content, of course, so this shouldn't come as any surprise. We just hope that it doesn't mean the game itself is on the light side, and we'll be aiming to tell you once and for all in the near future - just as soon as our good friends at Royal Fail catch up with the backlog.

For more on Beautiful Katamari, check out our first impressions. It's out now in the US and Japan on Xbox 360. There's currently no word on a PAL release. ...

via Eurogamer


THQ has said that a demo for the Xbox 360 version of Frontlines: Fuel of War will be available in December.

Confirmation came from a US press event, where Frank DeLise, boss of developer Kaos Studios, confirmed plans to Team Xbox. And this was later backed up by a spokesperson from THQ.

However, THQ Europe was unavailable to tell us when we might expect PS3 and PC versions, leaving the closed PC beta test as the only way to test out the title for now.

Frontlines: Fuel of War is a open-world first-person shooter set not too far in the future, and also not too dissimilar to a Battlefield game; there is a single-player element, but the trump card is a large and tactical multiplayer offering.

We had a chance to see it back in March, and were impressed with the level of polish and range of ideas on show. Pop over to our Frontlines: Fuel of War preview to find out more.

Frontlies: Fuel of War is due for release on PC, 360 and PS3 in January 2008. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Xbox 360 sci-fi RPG Mass Effect has gone gold and, as previously confirmed, will hit Europe on November 23.

It's a title that's been hotly anticipated thanks to it spawning from the development loins of RPG powerhouse BioWare, which has consistently impressed with its role-playing game experiences. Let's hope we're not left disappointed.

Mass Effect is the first part in a planned trilogy, and BioWare's suggested that all three games will remain exclusive to Xbox 360 following the developer's buyout by EA, but of course the future isn't written in stone.

UPDATE: Microsoft also sends word of the Limited Collector's Edition which includes a fiction book titled "Galactic Codex: Essentials", a 36-page guide to the Mass Effect universe, an art book titled "A Future Imagined" and a bonus DVD of exclusive "Mass Effect" background material and additional content. ...

via Eurogamer


Activision has said that the official Guitar Hero III demo will be on Live Marketplace tomorrow, otherwise known as a day before my birthday.

We say official because earlier we told you that clever, maths-liking folks from Internet had worked out a way for you to download it already, then burn it to disc and play it on a normal, unmodified 360.

The demo builds up to a Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Weekend that will offer prizes to fastest fingers, and even let you shred-off against members of the development team.

The competition runs from 2nd to 4th November, and could see you walking away with a limited edition guitar faceplate signed by hairy guitar player Slash.

Activision will be popping the official website for the competition up tomorrow, where you will be able to find a full list of terms and conditions like if you have to be in the US to win, for example.

The publisher also stamped confirmation on the 23rd November date for the PS3, 360, PS2 and Wii versions of the game earlier today, although Aspyr Media is handling the PC version so we aren't sure about that one.

Pop over to our Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock gamepage to for all sorts of information about the game, like why it should be very good and not everyone is waiting for Rock Band. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Rockstar parent Take Two Interactive has released a statement concerning the recent leakage of Manhunt 2 to the internet.

Back in early September we reported that a version of Manhunt was cracked by hackers and leaked to the internet. Question was though, where did it comes from? Seems like Sony was to blame and not Rockstar.

According to Game Politics, the following statement has been released by Take Two:


Notice how the statement says "former employee". ...

via Games Industry


Smarthouse, an Austrailian technology site, has reported that Microsoft is working on a new Xbox 360 console that will include a built-in HD DVD drive.

Microsoft currently sells an HD DVD player as an attachment for the Xbox 360, but it has not revealed sales figures for the peripheral.

According to the article the new Xbox console will be positioned as an entertainment hub that includes gaming and extensive wireless networking capability as well as 1080p playback. There is also talk of including a dual HD TV tuner and EPG capability and a docking port for an MP3 player.

Toshiba owns the HD DVD patents, and recently entered into an agreement with Sony to jointly manufacture cell processing chips, despite the fact that Sony is the lead backer of the Blu-ray Disc format competing with HD DVD.

A senior Toshiba executive in Singapore told SmartHouse "An Xbox with a built in HD DVD drive is critical. They and we are working on it. It also has to be more than a gaming machine. Microsoft recognise [sic] this. A version of the device may also be sold under the Toshiba brand name."

"The PS3 has been extremely successful for Sony in getting Blu-ray off the ground and for Microsoft, the omission of a built in HD DVD player is set to hurt sales going forward as consumers are aware that the PS3 comes with a Blu-ray player," said Scott Browning, the marketing director of Australian electronics retailer JB HiFi.

According to the article, the new console will be released late in 2008 or at the January 2009 CES show in Las Vegas. ...

via Games Industry


Microsoft has slashed prices for the Xbox 360 in Japan and introduced a new bundle to help boost flagging sales.

Effective November 1, the 20GB Premium unit will retail at JPY 34,800 (EUR 214), down from JPY 39,795, while the Core SKU will sell for 27,800 (EUR 171).

Microsoft will also introduce a Value Pack bundled with first-party titles Viva Piñata and Forza Motorsport for JPY 34,800, although there will be no HDMI cable packed in. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Dubbed as a follow-up to the arcade shooters back in the '80s, the re-visualisation is being developed by Backbone Emeryville.

The crazy-hard arcade shooter is being revamped for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. Expect a release this winter. But take a look at the first ten screens right here.


Screenshots here ...