via Computer and Video Games


Shiny new graphics and a number of new and improved areas have been revealed in the latest batch of screens of Sony's PlayStation Home.

After being delayed from its 2007 release, the world still awaits a firm release date from Sony, but it seems the extra development time is being put to good use because it's looking really nice.

In the shots you can see some of the new outdoor environments, an empty home space that'll be yours to full with furniture and whatnot, and another peak at the Lounge, where playable arcade machines and other recreational activities can be found.

We'll have loads more info on PS Home soon, but in the meantime take a look at the screens below and, if you fancy, poke around on the new official Japanese site.


Screenshots here ...

via Eurogamer


Electronic Arts has confirmed to Eurogamer that there are currently no plans to release UEFA Euro 2008 on Wii and DS.

The game was unveiled earlier today on PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, PSP, PC and mobile.

But despite EA's Vancouver men turning out an interesting Wii version of FIFA 08 last year, a spokesperson told Eurogamer that nothing's been announced or is on the cards.

Still, who cares any more? It's not as though we're going to watch any of it on telly because it will make us cry.

Anyway, the other versions include a mode which lets you fight to become your country's captain, as well as interactive celebrations (punch Stewart Downing?) and a "Battle of the Nations" online element.

Watch out for more closer to the 11th April release. ...

via IGN


The days of you being on a bus and getting pissed off because you can't participate in a virtual game show are coming to an end, my friend. Sony announced today that Buzz! is headed for the PSP this summer.

Developed by Relentless Software, Buzz! will keep the wonky antics from the previous Buzz! games that tested your general knowledge acumen and toss them onto a UMD for one to six players to enjoy on the go.

The game will pack more than 5,000 questions covering topics such as music, celebrities, and more to tackle in six new round types specifically designed for PSP. Sony descried Quickfire Challenge as a "speed-is-of-the-essence" challenge, Picture This as a "picture-puzzler" and Virus Challenge as "mind-boggling." Each round comes complete with pictures and videos.


Screenshots

Buzz! will have three multiplayer modes including Pass Around -- where one user answers and then can choose who to pass the next question to based on the subject material -- four-player Fast Fingers via game sharing, and Quiz Host mode, which allows six players to face off with one of them asking questions and controlling points.

Of course, Sony isn't forgetting the "table for one" crowd. Single-player in Buzz! will have 15 different quiz challenges to test general knowledge and award bronze, silver and gold medals as well as special trophies for answering a certain number of questions correctly, answering quickly and answering a certain number correct in a row. ...

via Games Industry


Nintendo's Wii Fit is the best-selling console game in Japan for the fourth week running.

The game has sold an estimated 1,283,000 units since it was released on December 1, 2007.

According to data from Media Create, the highest new entry in the Japanese charts for the week ended Jan 27 is Konami's World Soccer Winning Eleven: Ubiquitous Evolution 2008 for the PSP, at number two.

The full top ten for Japan follows:

1. Wii Fit (Nintendo) – Wii

2. World Soccer Winning Eleven: Ubiquitous Evolution 2008 (Konami) – PSP

3. Lucky Star: Misasagi Sakura Gakuen Sakura Fuji Festival (Kadakawa Shoten) – PS2

4. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo) – Wii

5. Wii Sports (Nintendo) – Wii

6. Mario Party DS (Nintendo) – DS

7. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (Capcom) – PSP

8. Doraemon Baseball: Dramatic Stadium (Bandai Namco) – DS

9. Yggdra Union (Sting) – PSP

10. Professor Layton and Pandora's Box (Level 5) – DS ...

via Engadget




According to T3 magazine and a "particularly well-informed insider," the PS3 is due not just for hard drive updates, but a total design revamp down to a slimmer and smaller package sometime in the Fall. If you believe what you read, the refreshed console will sport all the same specs, but will receive a fresh coat of paint, a trip through the shrinking machine, and probably a lightened load.

Of course, this is all just wild speculation coupled with salacious, magazine-selling 3D renders of the phantom device, as Sony denies the existence of an update and we don't really know who this source is. On the other hand, the company pulls this kind of ditzy "who me?" stuff whenever it's got a new product up its sleeve -- though we're not feeling the timing on this shocker. ...

via Computer and Video Games


As if you weren't excited enough about next week's Poker Smash, unknown and rubbish-named developer Merscom has revealed that Buku Sudoku is coming to Xbox Live Arcade this spring.

Featuring "high resolution graphics" (!), Buku Sudoku takes the game on the back of the ratty tube newspaper and makes it even more confusing, by replacing the numbers with fish, Japanese characters and probably different shades of brick for all we know.

There's even the promise of Xbox Live Sudoku deathmatch. Oo-eer...

But we digress; it'll probably appeal to a certain kind of Xbox audience who've gone ignored up until now, and we might even but it if it's going cheap... and has Sonic 3 as an unlockable side-game.

Have a look at the (tiny) screenshot on the right.


A couple of screenshots ...

via Computer and Video Games


Developer Void Star Creations has revealed that its erm, smashing Poker game Poker Smash will be released on Xbox Live Arcade next Wednesday.

It'll be out on Wednesday, February 6 (thank Christ January's out the way) and it's set to cost 800 Microsoft Points (about £6.50) - exactly what we don't fancy shelling out for a hi-def card game.

Thankfully thought it isn't just your straight-forward hearts and clubs affair; Poker Smash is spruced up with a fancy puzzle twist which has you picking out sets of Poker hands from a conveyor belt of scrolling cards. Interesting, but it still doesn't sound worth seven quid.

Look for it on Xbox Live next week, along with a short news story where we tell you it still doesn't sound like it's worth the money. ...

via Eurogamer


Nintendo has registered a patent for what looks like a series of casings in which the Wii remote can be slotted to create a new peripheral.

As spotted by 22hundred.net, the patent document refers to "A video game controller for a video game and a receptor assembly" and "A receptor having a shape substantially similar to a component appearing in the video game."

That sounds the Wii Zapper, you might think, the bit of plastic that turns the remote into a light gun. And indeed, the document states, "The receptor may be a gun-shaped sub-unit."

But have a look at the drawings included in the patent. They show all manner of casings which could be used to hold the remote.

Some of these make instant sense, like the tennis racket, baseball bat and fishing rod. But what about the bicycle, motorbike helmet and chair? Not to mention the teddy bear, which looks familiar. And is that some kind of virtual reality headset? Please, not that again.

Course it could be Nintendo's just trying to prevent other companies creating such peripherals, rather than working on plans to do so itself. But you know. ...

via Games Industry


ELSPA has told GamesIndustry.biz that a recent story about DS piracy in North America contains false quotes attributed to a company spokesperson.

The Sunday Post quoted John Hillier, manager of ELSPA's Intellectual Property Crime Unit as saying "In America, it's thought 90 per cent of Nintendo DS users are playing pirated games because of R4s," while discussing the notorious chip that allows easy piracy on Nintendo's handheld.

However, a spokesperson for ELSPA told GamesIndustry.biz that, "[John] didn't quote The Sunday Post on any figures whatsoever."

"ELSPA would certainly never presume to comment about America or anywhere else outside of the UK," added the spokesperson.

The report, said ELSPA, is a hatchet job consisting of facts from an article from Singapore, false quotes and a genuine conversation with Hillier on the availability of the R4 cartridge in the UK.

"The quotes from The Sunday Post were ascribed to his name from another article which originates from a website in Singapore. This, it appears, is where The Sunday Post first found out about the supposed R4 situation and for some reason unknown to John have quoted him on what this article said."

The spokesperson also stated that Nintendo views the reported facts in The Sunday Post article as completely false.

"As far as Nintendo are concerned, the facts are completely spurious." ...