via Computer and Video Games


Nintendo's Wii was the most searched-for product in November, according to a survey of British online shoppers, reports Reuters. DS came in just behind at the second most searched for product.

The survey was done by online search analyst Hitwise who pointed out the obvious that Wii was well ahead of rivals such as Xbox 360. It didn't even mention PS3.

In third place were Ugg boots (ask your daughter or sister because your mum really should have grown up by now). They're "chunky sheepskin boots" worn by celebs such as Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Kylie Minogue.

Highest traditional Christmas toy was Lego with those awful Bratz dolls at five. iPhone came in sixth and iPod ranked seventh. Been around the block Barbie was the eighth most searched product, followed by the iPod Nano and... the Xbox 360!

They must have stopped searching after that because there was no 11 or 12. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Ninja Reflex is a party game for Wii (and DS) that'll test your ninja, er, reflexes.

Basically, you'll be hit with a number of martial arts-related challenges which you must pull of with the precision of Bruce Lee. Reaction times are measured to the millisecond, we're told.

You're ultimate goal in single-player is to earn a black belt, while you can also try and out-ninja other ninjas in multiplayer.

"Ninja Reflex channels the accessible multiplayer fun of Wii Sports and the self-improvement aspect of Brain Age into a martial arts universe that is ideally suited for the Wii and Nintendo DS," says David Luntz, president and CEO of Nunchuck Games which is co-publishing the game with EA.

Ninja Reflex ninjas into shops next March. Have a look at the Wii screenshots if you're ninja enough. ...

Via psp.scenebeta.com.

Tanos has just released his very first Homebrew. Its a very simple game coded in LUA, in which we must avoid all bullets, and reach the left of the screen. It has only 2 levels for the moment.

Its nice to see how a person who doesnt know anything about programming starts to learn and shares his work with all of us. I hope that PSP scene will continue growing and growing every day...

Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

via Computer and Video Games


The latest issue of Japanese Famitsu magazine reveals Phantasy Star Portable for the PSP. Excellent news we thought, then noticed that it's just a port of PS2 and 360 effort Phantasy Star Universe... without the online stuff.

Phantasy Star Portable (to avoid confusion we won't refer to it as 'PSP') is based on the PS2 and 360 MMO and its upcoming expansion, with the addition of new missions and story points.

Unfortunately the online mode - the focus point of PSU - has been reduced to 4-player wireless multiplayer. Disappointing, but if they can cut off the story fluff for wireless games it could turn out to be a harmless, fun hack-n-slash.

The handheld version is being handled (ho ho!) by Japanese developer Alpha System, who we (and our mate Google) have never heard off. Lets cross our fingers together. ...

via Next Generation


For two organizations that claim to have the same interests in mind, one would think the ESRB and NIMF would get along just fine. But the two organizations who place parents and children on a pedestal are butting heads once again.

Following the release of this year's annual Video Game Report Card, in which NIMF gave the games industry a lukewarm "C" overall, ESRB president Patricia Vance defended strides made in the ratings system and parental awareness.

She said in a statement she appreciates the praise given to the ESRB in the report (the ESRB received a "B"), but added, "...In many significant ways, this year's NIMF Report Card contradicts recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) findings related to parents' awareness, use and satisfaction with ESRB ratings, as well as retailer support of the ratings."

Vance noted how the FTC found in a recent study that 87 percent of parents were satisfied with the ESRB ratings and found them helpful.

NIMF accused the ESRB of mishandling Manhunt 2, a game that the ESRB initially rated "adults only," essentially barring the title from release in a public controversy. Developer Rockstar censored the intense violence that had been flagged, and achieved a less restrictive "mature" rating for the game months after the game was originally scheduled for release.

However, the PSP version of Manhunt 2 still contained violent content, although it was only made accessible by users who hacked into the handheld. NIMF in effect said the "ratings process has not kept up with technological advances."

Vance added in her response, "NIMF exhibits a significant lack of understanding of and, as a result, grossly misrepresents the facts surrounding last month's hack into pirated versions of Manhunt 2.

...

via Kotaku


Japan aren't just crazy about Monster Hunter Freedom 2. They go bananas for Monster Hunter Freedom 2. But until now, we've rarely been able to express that feeling to you in numbers that matter. Thankfully, Capcom have provided us with some numbers that matter. According to them, the game has now sold over 1.5 million units at retail since launch. Consider, then, that there are an estimated 6 million PSPs in the wild in Japan, and you see that one in four own the game. Or 25%. Whichever way works best for you. Either way, that's loads. ...

via Eurogamer


Majesco Europe has whipped the wrappers of Blokus Portable: Steambot Championship for PSP.

Some of you might recognise the name, because Blokus is a celebrated board game where the idea is to place all of your Tetris-shape blocks in a playing area before space runs out. Do it and win, otherwise the remaining blocks and mini-squares they are made up of will be counted and used against you. Oh, and you do it while three other people try to do the same thing.

This version, developed by Irem, lets you unlock 18 characters from the Steambot Chronicles series of games as you go. It also gives you the option of playing with one or three others by disc sharing, or against up-to 15 others in a local wireless romp.

But the best bit - you'll like this - is that you can use "dollarinos" to customise name, appearance and gender. Wait. Half a hairy lip, please.

Blokus Portable also lets you send all your personal info in a business card-style way to anyone you play in wireless mode.

Potentially addictive puzzle game if its physical counterpart has any say, and will be available in Europe sometime in Q2 2008.

Pop over to our Blokus: Steambot Championship gallery to get a load of the first shots. ...

via Eurogamer


Microsoft has confirmed that Silver Xbox Live members will have to wait a week to access free downloadable content.

Restricted downloads will have a red circle with a slash through it to make it clear, and a message that will pop up confirming its exclusivity to paying Gold subscribers.

Title updates (or patches in real language) should still be applied automatically for everyone connected to Live, but content like demos or the recent free plasmid pack for BioShock will be unobtainable for a week.


The autumn Live update was applied yesterday and revamped the dashboard appearance and added downloadable Xbox titles to the Marketplace.

More interestingly it also added support for Xvid and DivX playback. ...

via Eurogamer


Doing anything on Friday afternoon? Of course you're not. So why not come along and interview some of the people who made Halo 3?

Yep, following on from chats with Peter Molyneux and Evan Wells, this week we're happy to welcome Bungie Studios production director Jonty Barnes and writing lead Frank O'Connor to our LiveText interview booth.

Both men will be here from 3pm GMT on Friday, 7th December, to take your questions about Halo 3 and anything else you might like to ask them. You will be able to submit questions through moderators and then watch their answers bounce back without having to refresh the web-page at all.

"I'm really looking forward to being grilled by Eurogamer readers on Friday. When I lived in the UK, it was one of my favourite gaming sites," said Barnes, implying that it's all gone wrong for us. "It always had the reputation as being hard yet fair. I expect nothing less from its readers on Friday!"

Frank O'Connor added: "I have been studying European culture carefully since finding out about this interview and I believe that the authoritative piece on the continent and its people, National Lampoon's European Vacation, will be an excellent preparation for me. I have no worries about the types of question these Aussies and Kiwis have planned for us."

So join Jonty, Frank, Super Moderating Hero and all your friends on Friday at 3pm GMT when we'll find out once and for all whether they wear hats, what colour they think snakes should be, and anything else you can think up. ...