via IGN


One of the biggest complaints about Factor 5's PlayStation 3 debut title appears to have been addressed. Sony Japan provided first details today on a free update for Lair, and included in the bullet points is the option for analog controls!

The update will also offer the ability to show a targeting icon, and Dual Shock 3 rumble support.

Sony is making a few additional downloads available for the game as well. Lair owners will be able to download the Wind Dragon and Poison Dragon for use in all stages. All PS3 owners will have access to a couple of themes which can be used to spice up the system's main interface. These downloads will also be free.

The new downloads will arrive in Japan on the 17th, and presumably throughout the world at around the same time. ...

via Computer and Video Games


A new F-Zero game for Wii will be unveiled by Nintendo at E3, currently named as F-Zero Z.

According to German website Nintendo-Planet.de, the new title will feature all the tracks of F-Zero GX and include an online mode.

More cryptically, the site also states that "a weapon system has also been confirmed". We imagine that has more to do with the Babel Fish translation missing something subtle in the language, though.

We're waiting back from Nintendo to deny its very existence, but the rumours would coincide with Reggie's hint that we should expect something big at this year's E3. ...

via Eurogamer


Yoshihisa Hashimoto, lead designer on Sonic Unleashed, has said the game bears "no relation" to the poorly-recieved recent games in the series.

Instead it will hark back to the Sonic Adventure days of old, and be a game created with purists in mind.


Hashimoto went on to reveal that the Wii version of the game will be out this winter, and use a Wiimote and nunchuk control system.

Sonic will be given Boost and Dash abilities charged up by collecting lots of rings, and can also hop to the right or left using a quick step manoeuvre. There will be no online mode, though.

The little blue man-animal can turn into a "werehog" when darkness falls, too, which apparently slows proceedings to an interaction-based platform affair.

SEGA officially lifted the lid on Sonic Unleashed earlier this month. It has been working on the Hedgehog engine that powers it for three years now, and is using it to get back to how things used to be.

Xbox 360, PS3 and PS2 versions are also in development. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Midlands Wii Chippers, The Welsh Game Barron - the ELSPA Anti-Piracy Unit has defeated them all. But this week the heroes in black send word of a new type of criminal... one who puts DS games onto discs.

During an 85,000 disc haul at an East Yorkshire Sunday market (the APU don't HAVE weekends), the crack criminal-busting unit found discs containing illegally copied DS games, "the first of their kind", apparently marked 'Volume 9 DS Games'. Where are volumes one to eight, then?

According to ELSPA's "forensic experts", the disc is the first of its kind discovered in the UK.

The approximate value of the games on the disc, says ELSPA, should a member of the public purchase it in a High Street shop, is £6,000.

The group hasn't said anything about convicting the bloke who owned (or now not) the discs, but if it's anything near as harsh as it was on the last poor sod, he's going to get 10 years and at least 50 lashes from the ELSPA whip.

"Piracy costs the games industry dear - just like that of any other entertainment industry," said ELSPA's crime unit chief, John Hillier.

"There are other things which the public should be made aware of about counterfeit games. Some of them will damage hardware, such as PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii consoles. Others will not play in PCs and consoles at all or, if they do, the quality of the graphics or gameplay mechanics may be impaired."

A spokesman for entertainment chain HMV said piracy was costing the industry "hundreds of millions of pounds". ...

via Joystiq


A sequel to the Wii's most electrically-charged Japan launch title is in the works. The latest issue of Official Nintendo Magazine (via CVG) reportedly says that Elebits 2 is due out on the Wii later this year. We haven't been able to yet get a copy of the magazine ourselves, nor has there been any confirmation from Konami or Nintendo, so we're going to file this under rumor for now.

The initial Elebits, also known as Eledees, launched with mixed reviews. We liked the concept, though, so it'll be interesting to see what comes of the developers having more time to polish. ...

via Computer and Video Games


In addition to bringing its Sam & Max episodic adventure series to Wii, Telltale's working a WiiWare game.

It's called Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, and will be release as a series of episodic instalments, with the first part to hit in June. It'll consist of five instalments in total, and be released on a monthly schedule.

Apparently, it's based on Matt and Mike Chapman's online animated series (Who? What?) and Strong Bad is "the self-proclaimed coolest person ever".

"The episodes play like extended cartoons, during which the player assumes the role of Strong Bad - controlling his actions, hearing his innermost thoughts, and becoming part of his awesome world," Telltale explains.

It continues, "Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People is a story-driven series with a comic spin that's undeniably Strong Bad. The player uncovers each episode's comedic plot through character interaction, dialogue-based puzzles, and the use (and abuse) of inventory items."

Telltale adds that each episode is crammed with "time-wasters" to "keep players poking around in the world, including Strong Bad emails to check, prank phone calls to place, and mini-games..." and that WiiConnect 24 features are included.

"The Chapmans have been treating the internet to episodic content for years. We're thrilled to have teamed up with them to take episodic gaming to the next level via Nintendo's innovative WiiWare delivery system", beamed Telltale CEO Dan Connors.

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People will be released on PC, too. ...

via Games Industry


Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G for the PlayStation Portable continued to dominate the top of the Japanese software chart for the week ending April 6, according to sales information compiled by Media Create.

It sold 488,000 units in that week, taking the total then to almost 1.4 million - although according to Capcom thanks to continued high sales since April 6 the game has now broken the 1.5 million barrier.

New entries took the next four places, also all for Sony platforms as the Corporation's consoles monopolised the top five, led by Musou Orochi: The Evil King Returns for the PlayStation 2 which sold almost 230,000 units.

Star Ocean 2: Second Evolution for the PSP took third, selling 91,000 copies, while the PS2 and PlayStation 3 versions of Pro Baseball Spirits 5 sold a combined total of 140,000 units in fourth and fifth places.

Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage fell four places from the previous week to sixth, while Wii Fit maintained its long-standing presence in seventh.

New entry for the DS, Tottado! Yowiko's Deserted Island Life took eighth place, followed by Super Smash Bros Brawl and Deca Sporta in the final two top ten places.

The week's sales meant that Sony platforms shifted almost 1 million software units in the top ten across the seven days, while Nintendo accounted for just over 180,000 - although Nintendo platforms actually made a clean sweep of all the chart positions for that week between numbers six and 25.

The full top ten is as follows:

1. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP)
2. Musou Orochi: The Evil King Returns (PS2)
3. Star Ocean 2: Second Evolution (PSP)
4. Pro Baseball Spirits 5 (PS2)
5. Pro Baseball Spirits 5 (PS3)
6. Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage (DS)
7. Wii Fit (Wii)
8. Tottado! Yowiko's Deserted Island Life (DS)
9. Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii)
10. Deca Sporta (Wii) ...

via IGN
...

via Eurogamer


Konami Japan appears to be blocking outside attempts to sign-up for the Metal Gear Online beta test.

Those trying have suddenly found the Japanese site off limits, suggesting the developer is trying to keep a lid on the amount of people involved.

If you already have a code, your position may be less set-in-stone than you think - Konami could go on to deny all Western-originating IP addresses from taking part.

However, this would contradict comments made by series overlord Hideo Kojima, who flaunted the beta as a chance to gain worldwide feedback on what each territory wants.

Konami Europe was unavailable for comment.

The Metal Gear Online beta kicks off on 17th April, with the full game set to launch alongside MGS4 on 12th June.

MGO is a multiplayer spin-off to the Metal Gear series rather than an online side-order for the latest instalment. It aims to stand on its own two feet by offering ongoing downloadable content, and may be digitally distributed in the future.

Pop over to our first impressions of Metal Gear Online to see why fans of shooters should keep their non-patch covered eye on it. ...