via Computer and Video Games


We brought you first details on the sequel (via PSW Magazine) back in early January. And Eidos has given the green light to show off some screens.

"Thankfully the sequel is going to be bigger, broader and crazier," says PSW. "There's no sign of Eidos tethering Rico to anything as boring as realism. If anything, the added zap of PS3 power behind the game has enabled developer Avalanche to push its ideas further still."

The game's lead designer Peter Johansson, said, "We identified the key areas we wanted to improve for Just Cause 2. We wanted to make better use of our huge game world, enhance the stunts, improve the combat and reward exploration more. We feel we have been successful at that and created a true sequel."

You can read the full PSW preview right here. After you've looked at the screens, of course.


Screenshots ...

via Computer and Video Games


The obscurely named title DS Novel is tapped to come to Europe sometime this year, Nintendo's latest financial report has revealed.

Yesterday, we reported Nintendo had confirmed Animal Crossing and Kirby were coming to Wii this year, but DS Novel is a name all new to us.

Based on the name, it could well be an English version of DS Bungaku Zenshuu, the non-game that contained a hundred Japanese literary classics on its cart.

The title has prompted us to consider changing our name to Computer, Videogames and any other tosh Nintendo decides to toss out.

But that would be the unwieldy cvgaotndto.com. Maybe we'll split the Nintendo channel into 'proper games' and 'random crap', then.

Bungaku Zenshuu sold 33,000 copies in its first week when released in Japan, but we question the cross-over appeal to western audiences.

Is there anyone who in England who would prefer reading from a 3-inch screen instead of flicking through a paperback? Could you even fit a sentence on the screen of a DS? ...

via Computer and Video Games


The obscurely named title DS Novel is tapped to come to Europe sometime this year, Nintendo's latest financial report has revealed.

Yesterday, we reported Nintendo had confirmed Animal Crossing and Kirby were coming to Wii this year, but DS Novel is a name all new to us.

Based on the name, it could well be an English version of DS Bungaku Zenshuu, the non-game that contained a hundred Japanese literary classics on its cart.

The title has prompted us to consider changing our name to Computer, Videogames and any other tosh Nintendo decides to toss out.

But that would be the unwieldy cvgaotndto.com. Maybe we'll split the Nintendo channel into 'proper games' and 'random crap', then.

Bungaku Zenshuu sold 33,000 copies in its first week when released in Japan, but we question the cross-over appeal to western audiences.

Is there anyone who in England who would prefer reading from a 3-inch screen instead of flicking through a paperback? Could you even fit a sentence on the screen of a DS? ...

via Kotaku


So some UK retailers are charging as much as ten extra quid for the PS3 version of Devil May Cry 4. Why's it more expensive than the Xbox 360 version? Both versions look pretty much the same. What gives?! Says a Capcom spokesperson:


That sucks, but there it is. ...

via Kotaku


Tyrone Spellman was found guilty yesterday of beating to death his 17-month-old daughter, cracking her head "like a walnut", after the girl knocked over his Xbox 360 during a gaming session.

Spellman, convicted of third-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child, faces up to 47 years in prison.

The jury elected to find him guilty of third-degree and not first-degree murder because they found Spellman acted in rage but without intending to kill the child. Prosecutors had blamed Spellman's obsession with video games as one of the reason's he killed the little girl. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has had a rummage down the back of the sofa and told us European gamers will get a free sampler of Patapon after all.

It goes live in the PSP Store on 21st February, and is the same demo-to-final-save taster that US fans get when pre-ordering the title from Gamestop. Ha.

Demo-to-final-save means you can transfer your saved progress across to the retail copy when it finally arrives. You also get your hands on a rare Spear of Protection to carry over, too.

Patapon is a quirky side-scrolling tactical-rhythm action something-or-other from the maker of LocoRoco. However, it is a little more complex than the latter, although just as stylish.

Patapon will be out for PSP on 22nd February. Head over to our Patapon review to find out more. ...

via Eurogamer


French developer Load Inc. is back for another crack at an Xbox Live Arcade racing game with Things On Wheels, due out in summer 2008 via publisher SouthPeak. Exact pricing has yet to be revealed.

Described as an "accessible, pure arcade racing title", it sees you driving remote-control cars around the rooms of a house with tracks built up of everyday items.

The twist is that routes are more freeform, and it sounds as though there's more scope for carving your own path between objectives, through table legs or past electric heaters. Sort of like Midnight Club meets Micro Machines.

Load Inc.'s last XBLA game, Mad Tracks, divided opinion, but SouthPeak and Load, Inc. are confident that this one will be better, with a source close to the developer indicating there was a bit more filthy gaminglucre behind this one.

SouthPeak has only released one screenshot, for now, but we put it on the internet for you anyway. Enjoy!


One screenshot ...

via Games Industry


Halo 3 has returned to the top of the most played list on Xbox Live for the week ended January 21.

It was pushed off the top spot last week by Activision's Call of Duty 4, the seven million-selling game which has dropped back down to number two.

SNK's Metal Slug 3 is still the most popular Live Arcade title purchased over the service, while Halo 2 is still the number one Original Xbox game.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles beats Family Guy, South Park and Naruto as the most downloaded TV show, while Mr. Woodcock tops the movies list.


The top ten Live games, Live Arcade sellers and Video Marketplace downloads follow:

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on unique user's)
1) Halo 3
2) Call of Duty 4
3) Guitar Hero III
4) Undertow
5) Gears of War
6) Rock Band
7) Devil May Cry 4 Demo
8) Madden NFL 08
9) Assassin's Creed
10) Forza Motorsport 2

Top Arcade Titles (full versions)
1) Metal Slug 3
2) Boogie Bunnies
3) UNO
4) Pinball FX
5) Bomberman LIVE
6) Worms
7) Sonic The Hedgehog 2
8) TMNT 1989 Arcade
9) Omega Five
10) Geometry Wars Evolved

Original Xbox Top Live Titles (based on unique user's)
1) Halo 2
2) Star Wars: Battlefront 2
3) Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
4) Counter-Strike
5) Fable
6) Burnout 3
7) Madden NFL 08
8) Call of Duty 3
9) Doom 3
10) Rainbow Six 3

Movies
1) Mr. Woodcock (HD)
2) Shoot ‘em Up (HD)
3) Hot Rod (HD)
4) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (HD)
5) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (HD)
6) Blade Runner: The Final Cut
7) Transformers (HD)
8) Ratatouille (HD)
9) Ocean’s Thirteen (HD)
10) Hostel: Part II (HD)

TV
1) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
2) Family Guy
3) South Park
4) Naruto
5) Comedy Central Presents: Stand-Up
6) The Universe
7) American Dad
8) MonsterQuest
9) Aqua Teen Hunger Force
10) Human Weapon (HD) ...

via Computer and Video Games


Men in their mid 20s and 30s need to put down the Xbox controller and grow up, says writer Kay Hymowitz in an opinion piece published in the Dallas Morning News.

Thanks to the emergence of pop culture such as television and gaming today's mid-20-something male "lingers happily, in a new hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance," argues the article.

In fact compared to the last generation of young men today's 20 to 30-year-old blokes can't be considered adults, she says. "Adolescence appears to be the young man's default state," a phase which the writer with the funny name has chosen to call "child-man", encouraged, she says, by gaming.

As a 21st Century, 26-year-old bloke, reads the article, "you live in an apartment with a few single guy friends. In your spare time, you play basketball with your buddies, download the latest indie songs from iTunes, have some fun with the Xbox 360, take a leisurely shower, massage some product into your hair and face - and then it's off to bars and parties, where you meet, and often bed, girls of widely varied hues and sizes." So far, so good then.

Does this typical modern young man have a wife, kids or house though, she asks: "Are you kidding?"

Back in the 60s, says the opinion piece, the average man in his 20s had achieved most of life's milestones such as a good job, marriage, a house and even a few kids in the bank.

These days, argues the Dallas Morning News piece, the vast majority of 25 year old men have neither a house, wife nor children, says Hymowitz, which is definitely nothing to do with the invention of either the pill or Ayia Napa.


"Underachieving"? We've got over 10 thousand achievement points, lady. The clue's in the title.

We're now living in a culture different from the one of 40 years ago, when you'd marry at school, get a factory job and live in the old family home? Education fees and houses aren't cheap in 2008...

Today's generation has far more time to develop a career, build a home and find a partner than before. When you consider that we're the first generation to grow up with control pads, it's obvious why it's become a target in this debate.

We bet their parents said the same thing about how 25-year-olds play too much sport on a Sunday instead of bringing up the kids...


What about the demographic of men who have a job, house and kids and still play games, then? Perhaps this writer should realise that some blokes are adult enough to decide what their hobby is. Sound off below! ...