via Computer and Video Games


A word of warning before you run out to the shops on Wednesday to pick up your Limited Edition copy of Halo 3; according to several punters in the US, the LE tine packaging is scratching discs something rotten.

"A friend just opened 3 copies of Halo 3 Limited Edition and with all three copies both disc were loose inside of the package and scratched to death," says one angry NeoGAF poster.

The problem is blamed on the plastic and foam nub in the LE tin designed to hold the discs - at least it's designed to hold the discs in but apparently they pop off with ease.

A number of gamers in the States who managed to get their copies early are reporting that the discs have shipped detached and scratched beyond repair inside the Limited Edition tin.

Tin enthusiasts will already be well familiar finding their games scratched to buggery; a similar problem was reported with the Prey Collectors Edition tin last year. All we can recommend is that you check your game DVDs before leaving the shop; we'll certainly be taking ours back if there's any damage.

We've left a message with Microsoft's PR squad - who surely have nothing better to do than answer our queries - and will hopefully have the official line on the issue shortly.


A few photographs of the disk-scratching problem right here ...

via Computer and Video Games


Just in case you missed the explosion of Halo 3 reviews over the weekend, Bungie's shooter is doing pretty well at review stage around the world. We say pretty well, but with the game scoring an average of 9.7 on stat crunching website Metacritic, we actually mean bloodily awesomely. You can almost hear the champagne corks popping at Bungie HQ.

It wasn't long ago that 2K's Bioshock rocked the world of review scores, coming out with nothing lower than high 9s if not straight 10s.

Surprise - Halo 3 is doing the same. Is it a surprise though - wasn't it always going to score really high? You can read our review here. We're more surprised that some haven't gone out there and said it's an 8 because it's 'more of the same'.

At time of writing Halo 3 was sitting pretty with an average score of 97 out of 100, or 9.7 out of 10. Check out the list here. But there's a couple of points to consider before Halo 3 is crowned the biggest scoring 360 in the world ever though.

The first is that the review NDA was only lifted on Sunday at 8pm. Now pretty much every major site knew this was coming and had time to get their reviews ready but there are still a lot of magazine scores to add into that average. Then the game goes on general release and everyone has their say. That 97 may move in a week or two, higher or lower.

So has 360 had its finest hour already? Can it get any better than Bioshock or Halo 3? Will the likes of Mass Effect, PGR4, The Orange Box or GTA IV dare score more? Sound off below. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Fresh from the Tokyo Game Show comes a new batch of screens for Namco's, which will feature a four-player VS mode.

The demo's been doing to rounds on US Marketplace for a while now but your only way of playing it over here is via the demo disc on Official Xbox Magazine.

Fingers crossed Namco sorts it out soon, or gives it to Atari to publish like it does most of the firm's games. Stay tuned for a release date.


See the screenshots here ...

via Computer and Video Games


Speaking in an interview with Net-Gen, Sony's world wide studios boss Phil Harrison has spoken about the success of Wii and how it's taken many by surprise, including himself.

When asked if he was surprised by its success, Harrison replied, "Yeah, I don't remember reading anybody's analysis that called this route two years ago or even a year ago to 18 months ago, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. We work in an entertainment business, basically, and entertainment has elements of fashion, and it has elements of the latest cool thing.


Read the full interview from TGS here. ...

via Computer and Video Games


The previously hinted Wii version of Samba de Amigo looks like a dead certainty after the official US Nintendo magazine legitimises rumours with new details.

Sega have remained tight-lipped on rumours of the much-loved Sega rhythm action game coming to Wii, after a frenzy sparked from a listing on a retailer website.

But according to Nintendo Power, the game's on its way "some time next year".

Apparently in development at Gearbox Software (Brothers in Arms developers), the game will feature both new songs and favourites from the Dreamcast original, and will use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in replacement of the original maracas.

Once again, Sega remains quiet on the seemingly immanent sequel, but we'll be having further words soon. ...

via Eurogamer


Paint by DS producer Jason Harman reckons a similar title could be a possibility for the Wii, although the lack of physical contact might prove to be a burden.

But not to worry, he said smilingly, "The Wii version could include other painting media such as a spray paint can and a roller."

Paint by DS is "a digital colouring book" that challenges you to recreate masterpieces by renowned painters like Cezanne and that one who chopped his ear off. You use the stylus to mix up oil and water-based paints to the right shade and consistency, then slop them around the screen in a paint-by-numbers fashion.

It sounds simple, but Harman is confident Paint by DS can teach us valuable lessons that will help us better understand the world of clever pictures we know as art.


There are around 15 colouring-in challenges to complete in total - some tricky enough to tax even the most skilful virtual painter - plus a flurry of mini-games based on famous pictures to distract you. Each masterpiece will take around an hour to do, apparently.

Paint by DS is part of the Zen series of titles from Mercury Games, so called because they are designed to relax as well as stimulate the old thinker. Perfect for a train journey home from work, for instance.

Those announced so far are Aquarium by DS, Fantasy Aquarium by DS, and Match Stick Puzzle by DS. There's more to come soon, too.

Atari will be distributing Paint by DS in the UK on 26th October.


Screenshots here ...

via Computer and Video Games


CVG has learnt from several sources that PS3 is about to step up to the console war in a big way.

Speaking off the record (which means we can't name names), we've been told by sources in both the publishing and retail sectors that PS3 is on the verge of receiving a massive price cut - to £299.

But this won't be for the 60GB system that's currently on the shelves. It'll be a stripped down version, which Sky News reports will ship without backwards compatibility or USB ports. How you'll sync your controllers without them, we don't know.

Sony has been tipped to make an announcement regarding the stripped-down PS3 this week - right on time to combat Microsoft's massive Halo 3 launch.

We'll let you know if SCEE has anything to say. ...

via Eurogamer


SNK has said the new and completely redesigned King of Fighters XII will be available in early 2009 across the US.

Confirmation came by way of Kotaku, who heard the news from SNK marketing manager Yoshihito Koyama at the Tokyo Game Show 2007.

This PS3 and 360 instalment will be a significant step for SNK, as it will discard the character sprites that have been used in the fighting series for almost a decade.

Instead, everything is being redesigned, creating a style described by Koyama as “3D mixed with 2D". It also goes some way to explaining the lengthy development time.

King of Fighters XII is currently unconfirmed for Europe.

King of Fighters XI was released here in the summer at a budget price, and earned itself a pat on the back from us for a splendid return to form. ...

via Eurogamer


THQ has officially de-cloaked gangster sequel Saints Row 2.

It's due on PS3 and 360 in 2008, and brings with it significant improvements on the 2006 free-roaming original.

Chief among these are co-operative online gang-banging for you and a chum, plus lots more customisation options like gender, age, voice, crib and gang bits and bobs.

The world has also swollen to include lots more locations, and you will be able to enjoy riding around in things like boats, helicopters, planes and the all important m070rb1k3s. We love them, the way they have two wheels and go very fast. Ooh, pretty motorbikes.

Saints Row 2 will also look better thanks to a beefed up engine from developer Volition, with the environments looking not too dissimilar to Crackdown's. You should find there's much more depth of choice across the board, too, intertwined into a much darker and more sinister storyline - albeit underpinned with a sense of humour.


Saints Row was released in 2006 and was surprisingly good - especially given it was Volition's first open-world effort, as you can see for yourself in our review.

However, it launched in a period without any real competition, and filled a GTA-style gap for many of us. Next year, of course, it will go head-to-head with the mega franchise itself. ...