via Eurogamer


The games industry needs to stop relying on sequels or risk developers and consumers losing interest, Harvest Moon creator Yasuhiro Wada has warned.


The danger, of course, is that new IP won't always hit the mark commercially, as Electronic Arts discovered to its cost in 2008, despite great critical notices for the likes of Dead Space and Mirror's Edge.

Wada's latest release, Little King's Story, for which he is executive producer, is due out on 24th April in Europe, and puts players in the role of a young boy who discovers a crown that allows him to make people do his bidding, which is to grow the village and make people happy (just as well really).

Asked whether he thinks the game will return later on, he said "Maybe."


Indeed. And if you fancy reading more of Wada's thoughts, check back on our Man on the Moon interview from 2007 concerning Harvest Moon: Innocent Life, and correspondent Keza MacDonald's infatuation with all things farming. ...

via Computer and Video Games



Telltale Games will release the first two seasons of its dog and rabbit detective adventure series Sam and Max on Xbox Live Arcade.


Telltale's new episodic series, Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures, is also headed to Xbox Live Arcade.


One screenshot ...

via Eurogamer


Two new titles are now available to download via the WiiWare service.

First up is the excitingly titled Beer Pong: Frat Party Games. Playing on a "regulation table" with up to three of your friends, you must try to score points by throwing ping pong balls in paper cups.

Or there's Speed Pong, where you use Power-Ups to slow your opponents down. The first player to sink their balls wins.

If you're more of a winter sports person, there's Snowboard Riot. Guide your character down the slopes, grabbing items to attack your rivals and defend yourself. The game is compatible with the Wii balance board and up to four players can battle against each other.

Snowboard Riot features outfits and goggles designed by Oakley - in fact, they're from the company's 2008 range. Plus you can "ride an electro rhythm" with music by "fresh new artists" 80kidz.

Beer Pong: Frat Party Games costs 800 Wii Points (GBP 5.60 / EUR 8), while Snowboard Riot is 1000 Points (GBP 7 / EUR 10). ...

via Joystiq


A recent survey conducted by YouGov for the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) revealed that most UK citizens want an independent body to issue game ratings. GI.biz reports that a majority of those surveyed also said that they would pefer to see games use the same rating standard as movies. The BBFC hopes to use this survey as leverage in its bid to become the UK's primary game ratings body. Currently, the BBFC only rates games with a certain level of mature content, though that may change thanks to last year's Byron Review.

The BBFC competes with Europe's PEGI ratings, which already appear on UK game releases. The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) argues that the PEGI system is superior to the BBFC. Said ELSPA director general Mike Rawlinson, "Gamers no longer just play with their mates but play online, and we need a system that reflects this situation and protects their interests," adding that the PEGI system is the "right solution for child safety." Rawlinson further states that ELSPA will be promoting the PEGI system with a "multi million pound campaign" designed to get the word out to UK parents. Finally, he says that ELSPA has conducted its own research with YouGov that supports its argument.

The irony of all this, of course, is that this fight is being waged to make ratings less confusing. ...

via Joystiq


A recent survey conducted by YouGov for the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) revealed that most UK citizens want an independent body to issue game ratings. GI.biz reports that a majority of those surveyed also said that they would pefer to see games use the same rating standard as movies. The BBFC hopes to use this survey as leverage in its bid to become the UK's primary game ratings body. Currently, the BBFC only rates games with a certain level of mature content, though that may change thanks to last year's Byron Review.

The BBFC competes with Europe's PEGI ratings, which already appear on UK game releases. The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) argues that the PEGI system is superior to the BBFC. Said ELSPA director general Mike Rawlinson, "Gamers no longer just play with their mates but play online, and we need a system that reflects this situation and protects their interests," adding that the PEGI system is the "right solution for child safety." Rawlinson further states that ELSPA will be promoting the PEGI system with a "multi million pound campaign" designed to get the word out to UK parents. Finally, he says that ELSPA has conducted its own research with YouGov that supports its argument.

The irony of all this, of course, is that this fight is being waged to make ratings less confusing. ...

via Joystiq


A recent survey conducted by YouGov for the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) revealed that most UK citizens want an independent body to issue game ratings. GI.biz reports that a majority of those surveyed also said that they would pefer to see games use the same rating standard as movies. The BBFC hopes to use this survey as leverage in its bid to become the UK's primary game ratings body. Currently, the BBFC only rates games with a certain level of mature content, though that may change thanks to last year's Byron Review.

The BBFC competes with Europe's PEGI ratings, which already appear on UK game releases. The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) argues that the PEGI system is superior to the BBFC. Said ELSPA director general Mike Rawlinson, "Gamers no longer just play with their mates but play online, and we need a system that reflects this situation and protects their interests," adding that the PEGI system is the "right solution for child safety." Rawlinson further states that ELSPA will be promoting the PEGI system with a "multi million pound campaign" designed to get the word out to UK parents. Finally, he says that ELSPA has conducted its own research with YouGov that supports its argument.

The irony of all this, of course, is that this fight is being waged to make ratings less confusing. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Rockstar has released two frankly wicked-looking videos of DS GTA entry, Chinatown Wars.

The game's out on March 20 - just two weeks before the European release of the DSi. We reckon we'll keep it in the rapper, in preparation for our inevitable impulse purchase of yet another Nintendo handheld revision.


Trailers at CVG ...

via Eurogamer


Sales of the R4 cartridge, which allows users to play pirated DS games, have been outlawed in Japan.

According to Kotaku, the Tokyo District Court has granted an injunction against the Chinese manufacturers who produce the R4. As a result, it's officially illegal to sell the cart, and the R4 has already disappeared from shops.

Square Enix, Nintendo and Capcom have issued statements pointing out how illegal sales of the R4 are now, just to be sure, and saying they'll continue to chase down anyone producing similar devices.

It's still legal to buy an R4 in this country, though obviously downloading pirate games is bad and wrong. Who knows, perhaps our lawmakers will follow Japan's lead in future. ...

via Eurogamer


Nintendo of America announced a surprise new Wii game yesterday in a bumper list of release dates for the region. Excitebots: Trick Racing follows in the tradition of the Excitebike and Excite Truck arcade racers, and is out on April 20th in a bundle with the Wii Wheel accessory.

We contacted Nintendo of Europe to see if the mystery game would be coming out over here, but a spokesperson said they couldn't confirm anything at this time.

Despite its imminent release date, details on Excitebots are extremely scarce, which doesn't exactly bode well. Gamasutra says it will feature "unique and changing environments", minigames, and tricks.

Punch Out!!, the Wii revival of the NES and SNES cartoon boxing game, was also given a firm US release date in the list - 18th May. Other notable release dates include May 4th for the New Play Control! remake of the marvellous Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, and June for SEGA shooter The Conduit.

There was one notable omission - Wii Sports Resort, Nintendo's launch-pad for the Wii MotionPlus add-on, which had originally been scheduled for a second-quarter release too.

We'll bring you European release dates for these games as soon as we have them. ...