via Eurogamer


Team17 has announced that the PlayStation Network version of Worms will be released in Europe over Easter, which presumably means we'll get it on Thursday, 9th April, before we all shut down to scoff chocolate.

The PSN release is an enhanced port of the Xbox Live Arcade version, which the developer says is among the best-selling games on the Microsoft service, and will cost GBP 7.99 / EUR 9.99.

So what's new? Well, on top of the traditional one-to-four player 2D turn-based shoot-'em-up strategy, there's 1080p graphics support, new effects, a more responsive physics engine, and new retro-styled landscapes.

Those who felt the XBLA version was a bit light on weaponry will also be pleased to hear that the PSN version includes the Holy Hand Grenade, Super Sheep and Concrete Donkey.

Check out our Worms PSN screenshot gallery to see how it looks, here. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Market research specialist GfK-ChartTrack's told us that DSi shifted 92,000 units in its first two days on sale.

The portable became the fourth fastest-selling console in UK history in the process, and moved more units than all of the other gaming platforms combined over Friday and Saturday, said GfK-ChartTrack's Chris Poole.

DSi senior product manager James Honeywell reacted to the early sales figure by telling our friends at Official Nintendo Magazine: "We are pleased with the initial performance of DSi over its first two days.


The news comes on the back of strongly worded comments from SCEA director of hardware marketing, John Koller, who criticised Nintendo for ignoring "significant gamer demographic groups" by releasing another product supposedly just for kids. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Official PlayStation Magazine UK has published its thoughts on the new active battle system from Final Fantasy XIII.

The mag compares it to FFXII "in that the battles take place in real time (with characters operating on a timer), but you can now input three commands at once."

Lightning, the main female character, has four techniques which appear on the menu along with the number of attack points needed to use them. Attack points, says the mag, correspond to a timer bar made up of three segments, each segment correlating to an attack point.

So you can either chain up three attacks with a technique that only takes one attack point, or you can deal a single blow with a technique that requires three attack points.

"Lift is a new command that launches foes onto the air and often leads to spectacular deaths," says OPM. It likens this to the mid-air battle scenes of the FFVII: advent Children movie.

Some enemies can't be lifted but the move still does damage. You're rated at the end of fights based on your largest attack chains and other stats, which will effect gameplay in an as yet unspecified way.

Also interesting is that director Motomu Toriyama says: "Unlike other FF titles the story is told from different viewpoints and characters, not just Lightening", as the mag takes control of another character called Snow, using his guns and white magic.

The full preview is in OPM issue 31 on sale from April 14, which also features a huge 10-page preview on BioShock 2.

Note: OPM has issued a statement as to why there is a page missing from the FFXIII preview. "We're really sorry, but due to an issue with an advert that had been printed on the other side we had to remove the last page of the Final Fantasy XIII feature." ...

via Computer and Video Games


If real, these are the first screenshots of Zipper Interactive's MAG: Massive Action Game, and it looks pretty good.

Details for the FPS have been scant, except for the much-touted promise of smooth, 256-player action on PS3, which will be a feat within itself.

According to reports, these images appeared on Flickr over the weekend, giving the world an unexpected first glimpse of the shooter. And they're massive.

There's loads more art where these came from too over on Destructoid. ...

via Eurogamer


2K Sports has confirmed that Don King Boxing for Wii will be released on 24th April following its recent mishap.

The game had been due out on 27th March, but a last minute technical problem, as 2K put it, saw the game put back for a month.

Like last year's Don King presents: Prizefighter for Xbox 360, it puts you in control of a rookie boxer working his way up the rankings, except this time there are gesture controls too.

Look out for our review nearer 24th April. ...

via Kotaku


Now that you've played Resident Evil 5 with each other, it's time to play against each other, as Capcom puts Versus mode up for sale tomorrow on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The Versus mode contains two different game types. Slayer's Rule sees players trying to down the most Majinis within the time limit, while Survivor's Rule has players trying to down the most other players. Versus will be available for purchase tomorrow on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, costing either 400 Microsoft points or $4.99, depending on how your platform chooses to represent money.

So who's buying? ...

via Kotaku


Now that you've played Resident Evil 5 with each other, it's time to play against each other, as Capcom puts Versus mode up for sale tomorrow on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The Versus mode contains two different game types. Slayer's Rule sees players trying to down the most Majinis within the time limit, while Survivor's Rule has players trying to down the most other players. Versus will be available for purchase tomorrow on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, costing either 400 Microsoft points or $4.99, depending on how your platform chooses to represent money.

So who's buying? ...

via Eurogamer


Microsoft has said the sparkly wireless Lips microphones will soon work with Guitar Hero: Metallica and Rock Band 2.

The compatibility patch should be ready for Metallica's European launch in May, followed by a patch for Rock Band 2 sometime this summer. We're promised support for additional titles later in the year.

The publisher and platform holder also offered a list of Lips DLC arriving this month.

This Friday, 10th April, we'll be given Ne-Yo songs "Closer", "So Sick", and "Hate That I Love You". We'll also get Coldplay tracks "Speed Of Sound", "The Scientist" and "In My Place". Topping these off will be "Looking Out My Back Door" by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The following Friday, 17th April, promises a Creedence Clearwater Revival bundle featuring "Looking Out My Back Door", "Bad Moon Rising" and "Who'll Stop the Rain". There's also "3 Doors Down" by Kryptonite, "All My Life" by K-Ci & Jo Jo and "Sing" by Travis.

Finally, on Friday, 27th April, we'll be treated to "Love Today" by Mika, "Ocean Avenue" by Yellowcard and "Linger" by The Cranberries.

Prices aren't mentioned, but single Coldplay tracks were offered earlier this year for 180 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.53 / EUR 2.16) each. ...

via Joystiq


It's a morning just like any other, save for one joyous difference. You stumble out of bed, groggy and mildly alarmed by the monstrous shape your hair assumed during the night. A sip of coffee does little to bring your brain out of its fatigue nebula, with a glance at the calendar reminding you that ... wait a minute. It's May! The new Fable II downloadable add-on, "See the Future," is supposed to be out this month!

You quickly don your Bananas in Pajamas dressing gown and rush into the living room, shouting, "Wake up! Wake up you piece of slumbering silicon!" at the Xbox 360. Oh, you simply can't wait to download the new content, which marks the return of Murgo the Trader and the beginning of a new quest to lift a trio of curses placed on mysterious items. What wondrous new wares await you? What new breed will you choose for your post-potion pet? What good (or evil?) will you get up to with new costumes (including a Hobbe outfit!), hairstyles and "psycho Jester make-up?"

Oh, but you're getting carried away. There's still the 560 ($7) charge to pay before you can chase after the "Ghosts of the Snowglobe," save "The Cursed Knight" from his fate or bludgeon everything to a pulp in "The Colosseum." Of course, there are some free items offered to Fable II players (like "Welley's soldier helmet"), but only the premium pack offers ... oh. It's not online today.

You suddenly remember that Joystiq failed to mention what day in May the DLC would arrive. Those incompetent, unreliable bastards. ...