Need a little something to get you over the Saturday lull? Gnaw on this. Japan's own Yomiuri is reporting today that Toshiba is expected to finally admit defeat and enter the dark, devious world of Blu-ray later this year. For those keeping tabs, we've heard both confirmations and denials about the outfit finally caving and supporting the format it once battled so valiantly, but this seems to solidify it. If machine translation is to be believed, the company's first DVD / Blu-ray deck will boast a BD 18 label, and it's slated for release somewhere in the world by the year's end. The article also mentions that Tosh is strongly considering a Blu-ray recorder for the Japanese market, though no further details on that are available. C'mon Toshiba -- get this bad boy to the States before Christmas. We're anxious for a BD price war.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/18/t...-by-years-end/ ...

Microsoft has reportedly drastically reduced the amount of indie titles it's going to allow on its Live Arcade service — but no such limits have been placed on material from major publishers. Have the publishers themselves been pushing this agenda? And what will it mean for indies? Quoting: 'More and more indie developers are being created, bucking the trend of working for the blockbuster-sized titles of many publishers and opting to control their own development and keep their IPs. This is likely becoming more and more of a concern to major publishers, who seem — especially in ZeniMax's recent purchase of id Software and EA's combination of Bioware and Mythic, as well as Warner Bros. purchase of Midway's IPs and studios — to be doing everything they can to consolidate their power and lock down all the available resources.' When questioned, Microsoft released a statement saying that they're 'a great supporter of independent game development.'

http://games.slashdot.org/story/09/0...From-Xbox-Live ...

Heres the list of whats new in blueray releases this week:

Asahiyama Dobutsuen Monogatari Penguin Ga Sora Wo Tobu (~Toshiyuki Nishida, Ai Maeda, ...) JPN US$ 51.90
Changeling (~Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, ...) JPN US$ 51.90
Curse of King Tut's Tomb (~Malcolm McDowell, Casper Van Dien, ...) HK US$ 21.90
Death Trance (~Honoka Asada, Yko Fujita, ...) US N/A
Heaven's Door [Blu-ray+DVD] (~Tomoya Nagase, Sachi, ...) JPN US$ 62.90
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (~Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, ...) JPN US$ 52.90
The Sekai Isan Zekkei [Digital Remastered Special Editon] / The Sekai Isan Deirector Ga Erabu Sekai Isan Zekkei 20-Kei JPN US$ 85.90
Tytania Vol.7 (~Daisuke Kishiga, Katsuyuki Konishi, ...) JPN US$ 74.90

More Info --> http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...-23m-84-n.html ...

Play Asia have done of one their updates with tons of classic games for many systems, heres the details:

In these classic gaming news updates you will find a frequent summary of all classical titles which were added to our site. Availability is subject to frequent changes and fast decisions are recommended as we usually have only very few copies of those titles that are listed below. As always we are trying to expand our catalogue regularly.

In todays round up of restocks you can find all items restocked for Sony™ systems like PlayStation™, PlayStation2™ and PSP™.

PSone™

70's Robot Anime: Geppy-X [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Alundra [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Arc The Lad II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Arc The Lad III JPN US$ 34.90
Asuka 120% Excellent: Burning Fest Excellent [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Asuka 120% Final: Burning Fest Final [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Asuka 120% Special: Burning Fest Special [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Azito 3 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
BioHazard 3: Last Escape [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
BioHazard: Director's Cut - Dual Shock Ver. [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
BioHazard: Gun Survivor [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90 Brave Fencer Musashiden [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Bust A Move 2: Dance Tengoku Mix [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Captain Commando [pre-owned] JPN US$ 139.90
Captain Tsubasa: Aratanaru Densetsu Joshou [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Chocobo Racing: Genkai e no Road [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Chrono Trigger [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Dance Dance Revolution 2nd ReMIX [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Dancing Blade: Katteni Momotenshi II: Tears of Eden [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Dancing Blade: Katteni Momotenshi! [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Densha de Go! 2 Premium Pack [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Densha de Go! Professional Shiyou [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Detana TwinBee Yahoo! Deluxe Pack [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers [pre-owned] JPN N/A
DoDonPachi [pre-owned] JPN US$ 109.90
Ehrgeiz [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Eithéa [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Elemental Gearbolt [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
EVE TFA The Fatal Attraction [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
EVE The Lost One [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Final Fantasy Collection [Anniversary Package] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 109.90
Final Fantasy I+II [Premium Package] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Final Fantasy IX [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Final Fantasy V [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
From TV Animation One Piece: Grand Battle 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Front Mission 3 [Square Millennium Collection Special Pack] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
G-Darius [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
GaiaSeed: Project Seed Trap [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Gouketsuji Ichizoku 2: Chottodake Saikyou Densetsu [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Guilty Gear (Reprint) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
GunBullet + Guncon [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Gundam The Battle Master 2 [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Gunners Heaven [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Harmful Park [pre-owned] JPN US$ 229.90
Hokuto no Ken: Seiki Matsukyu Seishi Densetsu [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Horned Owl [Limited Edition w/ Light Gun] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Image Fight & X-Multiply Arcade Gears [pre-owned] JPN US$ 99.90
In the Hunt [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius: Forever with Me [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Khamrai [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Konami 80's Arcade Gallery JPN US$ 89.90
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 1 [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 2 [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 3 [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Langrisser I & II [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Macross: Do You Remember Love [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
RockMan X5 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Metal Gear Solid 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Solid Collection [pre-owned] JPN US$ 109.90
Metal Gear Solid Integral (Konami the Best) [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Metal Gear Solid [Premium Package] [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Mortal Kombat II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
Namco Anthology 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
Namco Museum Encore [Limited Edition /complete with all games] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 149.90
Namco Museum Vol. 2 [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Other Life: Azure Dreams [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Panzer Front bis. [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
PaRappa The Rapper [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Parasite Eve [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Parasite Eve II [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Pepsiman [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
PocketStation crystal [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Pop'n Music 6 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
Raiden Project [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Raiden Project (PlayStation the Best) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90

Rakugaki Showtime [pre-owned] JPN US$ 269.90
Ranma 1/2: Battle Renaissance [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Real Bout Fatal Fury Special: Dominated Mind [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90

Rival Schools Evolution 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
RockMan Dash: Tron ni Kobun [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
RockMan X6 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
RockMan X6 (PlayStation the Best) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
SaGa Frontier 2 [Square Millennium Collection Special Pack] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
SaGa Frontier [Square Millennium Collection Special Pack] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
SD Gundam G Generation-0 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
SD Gundam G Generation-F [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
serial experiments lain [pre-owned] JPN US$ 149.90
Sexy Parodius [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Shin Megami Tensei if... [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Silhouette Mirage: Reprogrammed Hope [pre-owned] JPN US$ 129.90
Snatcher [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Sol Divide [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Star Ocean: The Second Story [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Star Ocean: The Second Story (PSOne Books) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Street Fighter Zero 3 [pre-owned] ...

Play Asia have done of one their updates with tons of classic games for many systems, heres the details:

In these classic gaming news updates you will find a frequent summary of all classical titles which were added to our site. Availability is subject to frequent changes and fast decisions are recommended as we usually have only very few copies of those titles that are listed below. As always we are trying to expand our catalogue regularly.

In todays round up of restocks you can find all items restocked for Sony™ systems like PlayStation™, PlayStation2™ and PSP™.

PSone™

70's Robot Anime: Geppy-X [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Alundra [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Arc The Lad II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Arc The Lad III JPN US$ 34.90
Asuka 120% Excellent: Burning Fest Excellent [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Asuka 120% Final: Burning Fest Final [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Asuka 120% Special: Burning Fest Special [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Azito 3 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
BioHazard 3: Last Escape [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
BioHazard: Director's Cut - Dual Shock Ver. [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
BioHazard: Gun Survivor [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90 Brave Fencer Musashiden [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Bust A Move 2: Dance Tengoku Mix [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Captain Commando [pre-owned] JPN US$ 139.90
Captain Tsubasa: Aratanaru Densetsu Joshou [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Chocobo Racing: Genkai e no Road [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Chrono Trigger [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Dance Dance Revolution 2nd ReMIX [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Dancing Blade: Katteni Momotenshi II: Tears of Eden [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Dancing Blade: Katteni Momotenshi! [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Densha de Go! 2 Premium Pack [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Densha de Go! Professional Shiyou [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Detana TwinBee Yahoo! Deluxe Pack [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers [pre-owned] JPN N/A
DoDonPachi [pre-owned] JPN US$ 109.90
Ehrgeiz [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Eithéa [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Elemental Gearbolt [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
EVE TFA The Fatal Attraction [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
EVE The Lost One [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Final Fantasy Collection [Anniversary Package] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 109.90
Final Fantasy I+II [Premium Package] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Final Fantasy IX [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Final Fantasy V [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
From TV Animation One Piece: Grand Battle 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Front Mission 3 [Square Millennium Collection Special Pack] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
G-Darius [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
GaiaSeed: Project Seed Trap [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Gouketsuji Ichizoku 2: Chottodake Saikyou Densetsu [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Guilty Gear (Reprint) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
GunBullet + Guncon [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Gundam The Battle Master 2 [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Gunners Heaven [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Harmful Park [pre-owned] JPN US$ 229.90
Hokuto no Ken: Seiki Matsukyu Seishi Densetsu [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Horned Owl [Limited Edition w/ Light Gun] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Image Fight & X-Multiply Arcade Gears [pre-owned] JPN US$ 99.90
In the Hunt [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius: Forever with Me [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Khamrai [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Konami 80's Arcade Gallery JPN US$ 89.90
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 1 [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 2 [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 3 [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Langrisser I & II [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Macross: Do You Remember Love [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
RockMan X5 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Metal Gear Solid 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Solid Collection [pre-owned] JPN US$ 109.90
Metal Gear Solid Integral (Konami the Best) [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Metal Gear Solid [Premium Package] [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Mortal Kombat II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
Namco Anthology 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
Namco Museum Encore [Limited Edition /complete with all games] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 149.90
Namco Museum Vol. 2 [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Other Life: Azure Dreams [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Panzer Front bis. [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
PaRappa The Rapper [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Parasite Eve [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Parasite Eve II [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Pepsiman [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
PocketStation crystal [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Pop'n Music 6 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
Raiden Project [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Raiden Project (PlayStation the Best) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90

Rakugaki Showtime [pre-owned] JPN US$ 269.90
Ranma 1/2: Battle Renaissance [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Real Bout Fatal Fury Special: Dominated Mind [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90

Rival Schools Evolution 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
RockMan Dash: Tron ni Kobun [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
RockMan X6 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
RockMan X6 (PlayStation the Best) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
SaGa Frontier 2 [Square Millennium Collection Special Pack] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
SaGa Frontier [Square Millennium Collection Special Pack] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
SD Gundam G Generation-0 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
SD Gundam G Generation-F [Limited Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
serial experiments lain [pre-owned] JPN US$ 149.90
Sexy Parodius [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Shin Megami Tensei if... [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Silhouette Mirage: Reprogrammed Hope [pre-owned] JPN US$ 129.90
Snatcher [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Sol Divide [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Star Ocean: The Second Story [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Star Ocean: The Second Story (PSOne Books) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Street Fighter Zero 3 [pre-owned] ...

Ubisoft producer Frederic Lefrancois has explained that PSP game Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines will unlock content on Assassin's Creed 2 on PS3 and vice versa. Both games are due out in November.

"As players unlock health and Hidden blade upgrades in Assassin's Creed 2 PS3, the same upgrades will be unlocked in Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines," writes Lefrancois on the US PlayStation blog. "It also works the other way round: on the PS3 you will be able to access any Templar Coins and special weapons you've collected on the PSP."

Bloodlines begins after Assassin's Creed finishes, and follows Altair on his quest to bring down Templar rule on Cyprus. Our white-robed hero is no longer bossed by Al Mualim, however, and so treads his own curious path.

The story, Lefrancois says, should fill in the blanks between AC1 and AC2.

Griptonite Studio will develop under the supervision of Ubisoft Montreal, and Lefrancois believes Bloodlines to be a "huge benchmark" - "As this kind of freedom of movement has never been seen before on the PSP."

Free-running across rooftops returns, as well as eight extra mission types to compliment the existing investigative techniques.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/as...ck-ps3-content ...

Namco Bandai is trickling out media for Fullmetal Alchemist: Senka wo Takuseshi Mono. This short teaser clip demonstrates the team battle fighting system and reveals Scar as a playable character.

The game comes out in Japan on October 15. No domestic publisher has announced the title, but there is an interesting note from Destineer, the company that published Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy which was also developed by Namco Bandai.

“Navarre Distribution Services division has signed an exclusive distribution agreement to distribute four new console games based on FUNimation’s ever popular Fullmetal Alchemist series published by Destineer for the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP platforms.”

This excerpt is from a 2006 press release from Navarre, the parent company of Funimation. Destineer released two games so far Dual Sympathy and the independently developed Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game for the DS. While the press release is three years old, no Fullmetal Alchemist games for PSP have been announced until now. Perhaps, Destineer still has the rights to publish them.

http://www.siliconera.com/2009/07/17...g-game-teased/ ...

Release-date-happy Codemasters has announced that Ashes Cricket 2009 will be released for PC, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 on 7th August, which is the first day of the fourth real-life Ashes test at Headingley.

Developed by Transmission Games on PC/PS3/360, Ashes Cricket 2009 allows you to play through the famous series itself, and also in test matches, ODIs and Twenty20 games, with historical scenarios as well and Hawkeye to help out. Bowling uses a gauge and four coloured zones for timing, while catches are quick-time events.

The Wii version, meanwhile, has been handled by Gusto Games and, as you'd expect, allows you to perform gestures with the Wii remote to bat and bowl. While fielding, you can use the remote to polish the ball, set the field and bowl - applying swing and turn to deliveries - and batsmen can drive, cut, slog and nurdle.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/co...s-release-date ...

Release-date-happy Codemasters has announced that Ashes Cricket 2009 will be released for PC, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 on 7th August, which is the first day of the fourth real-life Ashes test at Headingley.

Developed by Transmission Games on PC/PS3/360, Ashes Cricket 2009 allows you to play through the famous series itself, and also in test matches, ODIs and Twenty20 games, with historical scenarios as well and Hawkeye to help out. Bowling uses a gauge and four coloured zones for timing, while catches are quick-time events.

The Wii version, meanwhile, has been handled by Gusto Games and, as you'd expect, allows you to perform gestures with the Wii remote to bat and bowl. While fielding, you can use the remote to polish the ball, set the field and bowl - applying swing and turn to deliveries - and batsmen can drive, cut, slog and nurdle.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/co...s-release-date ...