via kotaku

The Associated Press, it seems, has backed away from calling Nintendo's product replacement plan for the Wii Remote Strap a recall.

Instead of just changing the headline we used, I decided to do a little fact checking. By law, any consumer safety issues that crop up in the U.S. has to be reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Hopping onto their site I found at the top a listing for the replacement program, something they call a "corrective action," according to a quick call to the commission.

According to the commission only about 2 million of the straps were affected. The report says that Nintendo has received reports of cords on wrist straps breaking, including "three reports of minor injuries not requiring medical attention." All of the incidents, according to the commission, occurred while gamers were playing Wii Sports.

The commission goes on to say that all Wii systems purchased after Dec. 11 should have the new 1.0 mm cord, while systems purchased before then have the .6mm cords. All remotes purchased separately before Dec. 18 have the old cords, according to the report.

Nintendo sent along this official statement about the "corrective action."

Nintendo has a long tradition of delivering high-quality products and excellent customer service. The Wii Remote is meant to be gripped, and the wrist straps are a secondary measure. We have found that some consumers get more excited playing Wii Sports than we could have imagined. This resulted in a very small number of wrist straps breaking. We have replaced the broken wrist straps and continue to reinforce with consumers the safe and fun use of our products. Through its voluntary wrist strap replacement program, Nintendo is offering a stronger wrist strap free of charge to consumers by calling 800-859-4519 or by visiting support.nintendo.com. ...

We've got a red hot selection of new screens from PSP actioner Chili Con Carnage to get your mouth watering. This latest spicy portion of images show off some of the game's bizarre characters, from men wearing cardboard bull outfits to apparently suicidal big mamas with walking sticks.

The game is set in Mexico and is all about action. And judging from the helicopters, guns and road-based shootouts, it looks like it'll deliver that in spades. The release date hasn't been fixed yet but, judging by the finished look of these screens, we'd wager on it appearing in the first quarter of 2007.

Screens at Gamesradar ...

Nice to see the mainstream catching onto the GP2X, heres what eurogamer posted:

The first commercially developed game for the GP2X is Payback, a "bloody crime caper" that originally appeared on the GBA back in 2004.

The game features top-down action accross 11 cities and 50 missions, with updated 3D graphics, sound, and special effects. There's a custom jukebox mode that will allow players to dictate their own soundtrack, and it'll cost you just GBP 22.99 from the GP2X website.

Sound familiar? GP32/2x Distribution's MD Craig Rothwell is keen to highlight Payback's individuality, saying, "This game is a must have for every GP2X owner. Payback isn't just another GTA; the player must use his imagination to navigate the shifting tides of allegiance and the fully open environments to achieve a variety of goals."

The GP2X is a Linux based handheld console that plays games, movies, and music. Its open architecture allows users to develop and run their own software such as emulators like MAME. You can find out more on the GP2X website. ...

New from Divineo USA



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Each and every one of Talismoon's PSP faceplates will reach gamers with in pristine condition due to meticulous handling from start to finish of the production process. ...

New from Divineo USA



Thanks to the Talismoon Evolve 360 controller faceplate range, you can now take the customization of Microsoft's next generation gaming machine to a new level! The Evolve 360 controller faceplate features everything you need for some serious fine tuning of your controller in one complete package. Talismoon Evolve 360 plates do not only shine with vibrancy but also through a unique combination of plastic construction provide a reinforced shell for increased resistance and a longer life.

Ultra-gloss finish is the result of meticulous handling throughout the production process, to the point where the final customer is the first person to actually touch the finished product.

Right from the beginning the Xbox 360 is all about customization; now it's time do this prophecy justice with Talismoon Evolve 360 controller faceplates! ...

via cvg

Wii isn't a health hazard, it's people getting carried away. Following this morning's announcement that Nintendo will supply new Wii Remote wrist straps to anyone with concerned about the safety of their straps (or HDTVs), CVG was quicly contacted by radio station London LBC to comment on the 'recall'.

Turns out it wasn't a recall at all but wait until the mainstream press cottons on to all those pictures on the internet of teary-eyed 10-year-olds with black eyes and smashed TV screens - they'll have a field day.

It's a shame that Wii is being penalised for the excessive actions of an over-excited and clumsy few that have somehow managed to launch the Remote into the air while playing Wii Sports.

But it's not the Wii's fault. Nintendo top man, Satoru Iwata, addressed the situation when the console first launched in America, saying: "Before the launch of the Wii hardware Nintendo had a number of tests on the durability of everything including the strap, but our understanding right now is that even beyond our expectations people are becoming more and more excited playing Wii."

Some of readers clearly agree, as Mr-A-Hulse, pondered :"How over-excited do you have to be to chuck your Wii-mote with enough force to break free of your grip and still have the momentum to sever the strap and then smash the glass on your TV?"

Fellow CVG reader Wayneo1, stated: "Surely you need to be a Grade-A tw*t to throw your wii-mote at the TV." Or maybe just a slightly clumsy child, as I unfortunately found out my 11-year-old sister managed to throw the Remote at the ceiling during an over-energetic game of Wii Sports Bowling.

My uncle also achieved smashing his pet cat in the face playing the same game. The poor thing took a full-force bowl straight to the jaw. Ouch.

If this is the damage people can accomplish now, we dread to think what will happen during Christmas, after mum and dad have had a few glasses of wine and demand a go on Wii Sports. Carnage...

But it doesn't have to be that way, as Shigeru Miyamoto has already stressed: "We are encouraging people to understand that you really don't have to be so excited but rather you need to understand the control and then you're going to be the best player."

He's absolutely right - you don't need to play Wii Sports like you're Roger Federer. Controlled arm movements, or even gentle flicks of the wrist work just as well.

Here at CVG, as well as over a million other Wii owners, we've played Wii for many hours and never once sent the Remote bulleting across the room or clouted anyone in the face. Some people clearly just need to calm down.

Enjoy the Wii this Christmas but remember you don't have to launch yourself across the room during Wii Tennis. That way you won't wreck your house or kill a pet. ...

4 CommentsIn an interview published on CVG today GRAW 2 content producer Olivier Dauba discussed 360 competitor Gears of War, saying it's "it's an absolutely awesome ten minutes," but "if you play 20 minutes it doesn't bring anything new."

"We try to go beyond that and making something that lasts for quite a few hours," Dauba continues. "It's a different game maybe but in my opinion we're aiming for something deeper and wider with a bigger scope." "We're designing our game as a more long-term experience."

The GRAW 2 producer continues saying that he thinks Gears is a very good game, but "the core gameplay is very simple" adding, "you take cover, you aim and basically that's it. Ghost Recon in my opinion has a much deeper layer of tactical choices and the environments are actually different as well; Gears of War looks more or less the same to me - this type of destroyed city and destroyed environment."

via CVG ...

It's perhaps ironic, considering the game has been developed by UK-based Evolution Studios - and that we still have to wait for it over here - but still hats off to the chaps as MotorStorm has proved one of the most successful launch titles with our Japanese gaming cousins.

And Evolution is obviously chuffed to bits. "It's a real coup for Evolution", said the dev's CEO Martin Kenwright.

"Developing MotorStorm has certainly not been easy - but the team here really delivered. Evolution has a reputation for delivering high quality racing titles, but we really needed to up the ante with Sony's new hardware. We're delighted that the public has agreed with the press, and made MotorStorm the current Japanese number one PlayStation 3 title."

"We can't wait to see how it performs throughout the rest of the world", he added.

European and North American release dates for MotorStorm are to be confirmed shortly, according to official powers that be.
via cvg ...

The artwork for South Park's ninth season on DVD was released today. It pictures Kenny playing with his PSP. A Little soft news, but figured someone may be interested to see it.

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