via Engadget




The above 8 bit computer -- which is intended as an educational tool in emerging markets, and has been available in China and India for a while now -- is finally for sale here in the good old US of A. This hackable little package boasts a 1Mhz 6502 chip, and comes with a keyboard, mouse, two game controllers, an OS cartridge, RCA cables and nine volt power supply. You'll be jamming to your own, handheld version of "Personal Jesus" in no time at all. These bad boys are available now for the shockingly affordable price of $49.99. ...

via Joystiq


All those rumors of a PS3 price drop, like as soon as tomorrow? There's absolutely nothing to them according to Sony, who has contacted us with an official comment on the matter.


Sony's reaction to increasing expectations of an imminent PS3 price drop is interesting; it's not the usual "we don't comment on rumors and speculation." By blatantly stating there won't be one, the company may be trying to manage expectations (note that it hasn't denied a possible PS2 price cut). Also, if it were to announce a price drop one day after issuing this clear denial, it would draw considerable investor ire. Then again, if a reduced price for the console isn't announced relatively soon, it risks upsetting not only shareholders, but retailers and publishers as well. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Insomniac is keeping the Ratchet & Clank games coming thick and fast, with the third game on PS3, subtitled A Crack in Time, on its way this autumn.

Here is the game's official debut trailer, following the game's reveal last week. A Crack in Time will, according to the blurb, Conclude the events that began in Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction and Quest for Booty.



Trailer at CVG ...

via Eurogamer


Side-scrolling shooter Alien Hominid HD will be available for half the usual price on Xbox Live Arcade this week.

From today it'll cost 400 Microsoft Points (GBP 3.40 / EUR 4.80) instead of the usual 800. As an added bonus, obtain one achievement and you'll unlock the Alien as a playable character in Castle Crashers.

Alien Hominid HD was released just over two years ago and scored a very respectable 8/10 - read our review for the full rundown. ...

via Games Industry


Resident Evil 5 has gripped the top of the UK software sales chart, despite a decline in sales of 51 per cent, according to Chart-Track.

Capcom's survival horror game has equalled Resident Evil 3 as the series' longest serving title at number one, both racking up three weeks.

Wii Fit also held onto its position at number two, while Street Fighter IV continued to claw its way up the chart, taking third place compared to last week's position at number seven, thanks to a 7 per cent boost in sales.

Professor Layton and the Curious Village dropped to fourth place, suffering from a 40 per cent dip in sales, and WWE Legends of Wrestlemania also slipped one place to number five.

FIFA 09, Call of Duty: World at War and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars claimed sixth, seventh and eight place respectively, while Call of Duty 4 shot up the chart to number nine, from 15 last week.

Tom Clancy's HAWX dropped to tenth place, while the Wheelman failed to debut in the top ten, breaking into the chart at 11.

UK software sales chart follows:
01. Resident Evil 5
02. Wii Fit
03. Street Fighter IV
04. Professor Layton and the Curious Village
05. WWE Legends of Wrestlemania
06. FIFA 09
07. Call of Duty: World at War
08. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
09. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
10. Tom Clancy's HAWX
11. Wheelman
12. Wii Play
13. Mario Kart Wii
14. Killzone 2
15. Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training
16. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
17. Ben 10: Alien Force
18. Grand Theft Auto IV
19. Carnival: Funfair Games
20. Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection ...

The latest console sales figures for Japan are in with a slight change in rank positions:


Nintendo DSi: 71,233
Playstation Portable: 65,765
Playstation 3: 25,435
Nintendo Wii: 18,095
Nintendo DS Lite: 8,948
Xbox 360: 5,441
Playstation 2: 5,067


DSi is first, jumps up roughly by 44,000 while the PSP slides to 2nd place, still increased by 22,000 though. PS3 is next, down 3,000. Forth is the Wii, up slightly by 150. 5th and 6th places are the DS Lite and Xbox 360 respectively, both go down by 3,000. Last in line is the PS2, down 200. Figures from Media Create. ...

via Eurogamer


Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi revealed that he's working on an iPhone extension of his PSN game Noby Noby Boy at his Game Developers Conference talk today.

He showed the game running on his own phone, holding it up to a camera so the audience could see. It features a multi-touch control scheme, with the player manipulating each end of the stretchy BOY character - represented in 2D - with a different finger.

He moved the BOY around, displacing floating letters of the game's name as he did so.

"We just started doing this a week ago," he told the audience, and said that it might be a free application.

He hopes to be able to plug the game into the PSN version. In Noby Noby Boy, the cumulative stretching done by all players contributes to the length of GIRL as she tries to reach all the planets in the solar system.

The problem is that, if GIRL keeps growing at the current rate, it will take 820 years for her to span the solar system, due to Noby Noby Boy's poor sales.

"I thought it would be neat if we can use the BOY from the iPhone and communicate to the girl, maybe that would make the girl reach the solar system in 400 years instead of 820," Takahashi joked.

Takahashi also showed the forthcoming multiplayer update to Noby Noby Boy, which he hopes to release "probably in the latter part of April". He let members of the audience play it on screens while he talked.

It's an offline mode that allows up to four players to control BOYs simulataneously. If two BOYs break in two, they can then combine to create a BOY where each end is controlled by a different player.

Takahashi charmed and confused the pants off the audience at his typically off-the-wall GDC talk. We'll publish more from the eccentric creator later. ...

via Eurogamer


Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi revealed that he's working on an iPhone extension of his PSN game Noby Noby Boy at his Game Developers Conference talk today.

He showed the game running on his own phone, holding it up to a camera so the audience could see. It features a multi-touch control scheme, with the player manipulating each end of the stretchy BOY character - represented in 2D - with a different finger.

He moved the BOY around, displacing floating letters of the game's name as he did so.

"We just started doing this a week ago," he told the audience, and said that it might be a free application.

He hopes to be able to plug the game into the PSN version. In Noby Noby Boy, the cumulative stretching done by all players contributes to the length of GIRL as she tries to reach all the planets in the solar system.

The problem is that, if GIRL keeps growing at the current rate, it will take 820 years for her to span the solar system, due to Noby Noby Boy's poor sales.

"I thought it would be neat if we can use the BOY from the iPhone and communicate to the girl, maybe that would make the girl reach the solar system in 400 years instead of 820," Takahashi joked.

Takahashi also showed the forthcoming multiplayer update to Noby Noby Boy, which he hopes to release "probably in the latter part of April". He let members of the audience play it on screens while he talked.

It's an offline mode that allows up to four players to control BOYs simulataneously. If two BOYs break in two, they can then combine to create a BOY where each end is controlled by a different player.

Takahashi charmed and confused the pants off the audience at his typically off-the-wall GDC talk. We'll publish more from the eccentric creator later. ...

via Kotaku


Here's the latest PS3 ad featuring a famous Japanese designer. Previously, the ads showcased Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and White Knight Chronicles designer Akihiro Hino.

This time, it's Gran Turismo's Kazunori Yamauchi turn. The ad is short, sweet and self-explanatory. Next up, no doubt inevitable ads with Metal Gear Solid mastermind Hideo Kojima and Final Fantasy designer Tetsuya Nomura.


...