via Eurogamer


Wii Fit has barely broken a sweat to romp to the top of the UK All-Formats Top 40 in its first week on sale.

In the process it hurdled the previous Nintendo record set by Mario Kart just a few weeks ago to become the third fastest-selling game ever, netting around GBP 16.3 million.

Mario Kart Wii managed to hold onto second, though, although sales were down a significant 62 percent. And Mario & Sonic at the Olympics clung on at third to make it a Nintendo-dominated podium for the week.

Further down and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue took four, PES 2008 took five, and Call of Duty 4 climbed a little to six.

Then came SEGA Superstars Tennis at seven, Brain Training at eight, UEFA Euro 2008 at nine and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 at 10.

Big movers this week were WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2008 up from 34 to 21, while Condemned 2 tumbled down from 13 to 25, and Carnival Games plunged from 12 to 22.

Interestingly Halo 3 managed to bump its way back into the charts at 31, just below the other new entry this week, SingStar Summer Party.

Here's that UK All-Formats Top 40 chart in full:

1. Wii Fit (Wii)
2. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
3. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii, DS)
4. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)
5. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PC, DS, PSP)
6. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS)
7. SEGA Superstars Tennis (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS)
8. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
9. UEFA Euro 2008 Xbox 360, PC, PS3, PS2, PSP)
10. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (Xbox 360, PS3)
11. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, DS)
12. Game Party (Wii)
13. FIFA 08 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
14. Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS)
15. Wii Play (Wii)
16. Imagine: Babies (DS)
17. Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)
18. More Brain Training From Dr Kawashima (DS)
19. Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (Wii)
20. Cooking Mama 2 (Wii, DS)
21. WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
22. Carnival: Funfair Games (Wii)
23. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, DS, PSP)
24. The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bathroom Interior Design Stuff (PC)
25. Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Xbox 360, PS3)
26. Ben 10: Protector of Earth (Wii, PS2, PSP, DS)
27. Mario Kart DS (DS)
28. The Simpsons Game (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
29. SingStar Summer Party (PS2)
30. Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
31. Football Manager 2008 (PC, Xbox 360)
32. Ratatouille (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, DS, PSP, GBA)
33. Time Crisis 4 (PS3)
34. Professor Kageyama's Maths Training (DS)
35. 42 All-Time Classics (DS)
36. Dark Sector (Xbox 360, PS3)
37. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS)
38. Sight Training (DS)
39. Army of Two (Xbox 360, PS3)

...

via Computer and Video Games


New shots and all-new gameplay footage has emerged for High Moon Studios's take on Robert Ludlum's Bourne series, entitled The Bourne Conspiracy.

As we reported earlier on today, Matt Damon will not be voicing, or lending his likeness to, the game, as he apparently took issue with the violence in the videogame. That unfortunate preference of his hasn't stopped High Moon putting together a kinetic trailer for a great looking game, though.

Based on our hands-on preview from February, we expect it to be full of action and free of distractions. Which not only rhymes, but is true. There are no mini games or platform sections or stealth areas. It's pure combat, albeit with a splattering of racing combat on the side.

The Bourne Conspiracy is out on PS3 and Xbox 360 on June 27.


Screenshots
Trailer ...

via Kotaku


Earlier today we broke the news that some Grand Theft Auto IV gamers were having problems with the game on both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

For them, the game was freezing up during the introductory cut-scene, something that neither I nor Mike experienced during our time with the game on both systems. To be clear, we have no idea how widespread the problem is, but it's certainly on Rockstar's radar and making the rounds both in our tips line and on forums.

Rockstar declined to comment on the issue officially, so I went to the phone and called up Rockstar Support to see what they had to say about the problem.

A very friendly, and obviously unhappy, fellow answered the phone who, after thanking me for not yelling at him and apologizing profusely for the problem, spilled quite a bit of beans on the issue:

The man told me that the problem is apparently only effecting the 60 GB version of the Playstation 3, but that it didn't matter than my particular console was a launch console (Yes, I told a little white lie and said my copy was locking up.) He said the problem is not across the board for the 60GB PS3s but rather only impacts some, so their tech folks are working around the clock to try and figure out what is causing the issue.

He did ask me to make sure that my harddrive wasn't full and that I had the latest firmware update, but confessed that that really isn't what's causing most of the problem. He also said that the Xbox 360 is having the "exact same problem," which has further stumped their tech folks.

I asked him if wiping the harddrive and reinstalling the PS3 version would help, as seen on the PS forums, he said I could try but that he hadn't heard of it helping a single person.

He ended the call by saying that they really have no idea when a fix will be coming because they can't figure out what is exactly causing the problem and then once more apologized.

"I feel terrible about this."

If only more support folks were as empathetic and genuinely concerned about the problems their customers are going through. ...

via Kotaku


A queue of gamers waiting in line at a Gamestation store in South London were treated to a gruesome preview of the game they would soon be playing when a hooded man who had seemingly been waiting in line for the game repeatedly stabbed a 23-year-old male who had been passing by. Around 50-100 people were present at the Gamestation in Croydon when the attack occurred, with members of the queuing public contact the police. The victim was discovered a short distance from the store and was taken to a hospital and treated for multiple stab wounds.

Authorities are currently looking for "a light skinned black man aged about 21, 6ft 5ins tall, of medium build wearing a light grey hooded top," while the mainstream media is currently seeking the best possible way to shock the living hell out of the non-gaming public with the headline for this story. I think we're going to have to give them this one. The assailant just picked a really inconvenient time to go apeshit. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Microsoft has slashed the price of the Xbox 360 in four Asian markets, Bloomberg reports.

Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan all see price cuts, though the biggest is Singapore which has received a 20 percent price reduction on the console, bringing it down to S$499 (£185).

The basic version, says Bloomberg (which we're assuming is the Arcade console) is set to drop by 17 percent to $10,360 (£172) in Taiwan, and by 11 percent in Hong Kong effective today. Prices will fall 5.1 percent to 369,000 won (£187) in Korea.

Last month Microsoft dropped the price of the Xbox 360 in Europe as well, bringing the cost of the Arcade console down to less than a Wii at £159.99.

Since the European cut, sales of Microsoft's console have been reported to have jumped by as much as 36 percent, though whether this will be echoed now in Asia, who knows? ...

via Games Industry


Online retailer Play.com has revealed it has been taking over 80 orders per minute for Grand Theft Auto IV, released today.

Stuart Rowe, chief operating officer for Play.com, has said that the game is likely to smash previous sales records in the videogame sector.


The company had to resort to a first come, first served basis for the game earlier this month when demand became so strong it could not guarantee delivery on the day of release.

"Grand Theft Auto IV is going to break all previous records when it comes to gaming," offered Rowe. ...

via IGN


Atari today announced the forthcoming European release of Namco Bandai Games' Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 for PlayStation 2. As the latest and most advanced in the fighting game series based on the Naruto Universe, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 boasts the largest ever selection of playable ninja characters, brand new playing modes for even more gameplay variety, and unprecedented freedom and immerson into the Naruto world with a 3D rendered Hidden Leaf Village. Set in the Naruto universe popularised by the anime TV show currently on air across Europe, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 is scheduled for European release in September 2008.

The game's main story mode, Ultimate Contest, revolves around the Leaf Village where the All-Out Ninja Tournament is being held between the rival Leaf and Sand ninja. The winner of the tournament will be crowned Hokage and will be able to put forward a new rule for the Leaf Village, but this power must not fall into the wrong hands. To ensure this does not happen, the player enters the Naruto world to explore the massive 3D rendered Hidden Leaf Village, engage in all out battle royale matches, interact with residents in the village and complete over 55 missions.

Players can choose their favourite ninja from the most extensive selection of over 40 playable characters from the hit anime TV show including Naruto, Sasuke, Itachi, The Hokages, The Sound Ninja 4 and many more. Battles are made bigger than ever before by unleashing Ultimate Jutsu to customise favourite characters into powerful ninja warriors, and summoning gigantic creatures as allies in Summoning Mode. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 also offers tons of combat variety either as close combat or using a variety of ranged weapons, and support characters can be called upon to help with super attacks.

Another unique feature of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 is the Hero's History mode which lets the player participate in major events and battles from the anime series through the Sasuke Retrieval Arc where the decisive battle of destiny will be played out to determine the fate of the two greatest ninja. For the first time in the series, the player can choose between English and Japanese voiceover to enhance the original flavour of the anime series.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 for PlayStation 2 is published by Namco Bandai Games Europe SAS, distributed in Europe by Atari, and scheduled for European release in September 2008. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony London has begun full production on PS3 third-person shooter Eight Days.

The Guardian confirmed work was under way as it was shown around the studio, and also revealed that pre-production on The Getaway had begun.

"Moving up from floor to floor, we see Eight Days - which is just ramping up to full production," wrote The Guardian. "To get an idea of the scale of development required on next-gen consoles, the team, currently numbering 63, will expand to about 80 with a further 40 or so outsourced workers.

"A small team is working on pre-production for the next iteration of The Getaway, in preparation for being joined by the bulk of the Eight Days team when the latter is completed."

Eight Days was first shown at E3 in 2006 as one of the hot prospects on PS3 for the future. Its unveiling was handled by a suitably juicy trailer - probably to be taken with a pinch of salt - and shows plenty of driving action with exploding gas tanks in a desert-style location.

There's still no word on when it will be out, but we may see more as E3 and the Sony event in May approach.

Sony London is perhaps best known for its work on SingStar and EyeToy games. ...

via Computer and Video Games


In an even more obvious move than us writing this GTA IV news story, Microsoft has decided to pimp its exclusive downloadable content on today's big launch day.

"Play Grand Theft Auto IV multiplayer online with your friends starting today over the Xbox LIVE," says the company's statement."Starting this autumn, Xbox 360 owners will also have access to exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV episodes that will provide hours of additional game play."

And that's about it. So far all we know about the 360 exclusive DLC comes from a Sam Houser rant in Edge magazine, where he revealed that Rockstar's mission was to "fry Xbox Live".

"I think the mission packs with the episodes are going to be pretty deep, offering another full-on adventure in this world," the Rockstar boss said. "I think we will be in a position to market them not a million miles away from the way the boxed game is marketed.

"You'll get a lot of content for your money. There are too many stories at the moment of people having the feeling that they're not getting enough for their money in terms of downloadable content."

You can read our GTA IV review here and oh look, here's some in-game footage. ...