Via Insert Credit

Newest in a long line of 'last ever' dreamcast shooters, the mediocre Warashi (it's a shame to say that) Naomi-based game Trigger Heart Excelica will be hitting the Dreamcast in February 2007, under the name (as you may have surmised) Trigger Heart Extension. The game will get the standard premium and normal editions, according to Arcadia, who reported the news first. If you want more info on the game or Warashi, check our post announcing the unveiling of the Naomi arcade original.

More Info/screenshot Here ...

Before the Wii arrived in stores last week, Nintendo said it would add new titles to its Virtual Console downloadable game service each Monday following the launch. Yesterday one new title arrived on the Virtual Console, the 1990 TurboGrafx-16 shooter Super Star Soldier.

A vertically scrolling sci-fi shoot-'em-up, Super Star Soldier is being offered for 600 Wii points ($6). Developed by Hudson, the game offers players a number of genre staples, including spread cannon, flame thrower, and electricity gun power-ups, as well as homing missiles and satellite ships to absorb stray enemy fire.

Super Star Soldier brings the number of Virtual Console games available to 15, with a total of 30 expected to be up on the service by the end of the year. The game is rated E for Everyone. ...

Earlier this month, the Wii was sent up on the popular cartoon South Park. Now, eight days after Nintendo's console went on sale in the US, another Comedy Central show is also using the platform to produce mass mirth.

Last night on the Colbert Report, increasingly influential satirist Stephen Colbert used the Wii to take a jab at a political opponent--literally. First, the console was named the number-one menace in the show's ongoing "Threatdown" segment, as Colbert called the "Wiiiiii! ... the most addicting video game (sic) of all time."

After taunting "nerds" seeking the hard-to-find console, the faux-conservative pundit--admitted and former Dungeons and Dragons player--engaged in a Wii Sports boxing match. His opponent? A Mii mock-up of the incoming Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-California), whom he roundly pummeled on air with his own Mii avatar.

The Wii Colbert Report is currently viewable on YouTube. ...

This week, the obvious became official: The first batch of the PlayStation 3 is gone. "All PS3s brought into the US last week sold out," Dave Karraker, Sony Computer Entertainment America's senior vice president of corporate communications, told GameSpot. "Feedback from our retail partners is that demand is still incredibly high and that PS3s put on store shelves were quickly snapped up by holiday shoppers."

Though he declined to give a specific quantity of day-one PS3 stock, the executive did say that Sony was on target to bring 1 million units to North America by year's end. "We will continue to utilize airfreight delivery for the PlayStation 3 to ensure a steady stream of systems for North American consumers through the end of the year," promised Karraker. Some retailers, such as GameStop, have already reported receiving a second batch of the console, which is still fetching upward of $1,000 on eBay.

Demand also appears to be high for Sony's current-generation platforms. Though he didn't give specific numbers, Karraker said sales of the PlayStation 2 rose 116.5 percent during the week of November 26 when compared to the week prior. The PSP fared even better, enjoying a week-over-week increase of 280.5 percent. First-party software sales for the PS2 and PSP increased 120.6 percent and 167.9 percent, respectively; third-party software sales percentages were not provided.

Via Gamespot ...

This week, the obvious became official: The first batch of the PlayStation 3 is gone. "All PS3s brought into the US last week sold out," Dave Karraker, Sony Computer Entertainment America's senior vice president of corporate communications, told GameSpot. "Feedback from our retail partners is that demand is still incredibly high and that PS3s put on store shelves were quickly snapped up by holiday shoppers."

Though he declined to give a specific quantity of day-one PS3 stock, the executive did say that Sony was on target to bring 1 million units to North America by year's end. "We will continue to utilize airfreight delivery for the PlayStation 3 to ensure a steady stream of systems for North American consumers through the end of the year," promised Karraker. Some retailers, such as GameStop, have already reported receiving a second batch of the console, which is still fetching upward of $1,000 on eBay.

Demand also appears to be high for Sony's current-generation platforms. Though he didn't give specific numbers, Karraker said sales of the PlayStation 2 rose 116.5 percent during the week of November 26 when compared to the week prior. The PSP fared even better, enjoying a week-over-week increase of 280.5 percent. First-party software sales for the PS2 and PSP increased 120.6 percent and 167.9 percent, respectively; third-party software sales percentages were not provided.

Via Gamespot ...

If you don't remember this beauty go and ask your dad. It was a classic and one of the first fighting games that lets two players kick and punch their way through level after level of punks to save a hot pixelated honey at the end.

OXM360 reports that the download is only 12.56MB and the Live Arcade version will feature enhanced graphics as well as co-op mode you can play over Live.

There's no word on cost and price of the download yet. ...

We're still waiting for mobile phone games to come good. In the meantime we're happily playing our DS Lites. That said, the Doom RPG was awesome, mainly because you didn't need to use anything apart from your thumb.

Early 2007 sees PGR's mobile debut, developed by Glu Mobile, and the cars you'll be able to smash into walls include Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, Cadillac Sixteen, Ford GT, Honda NSX-R, Lamborghini Gallardo, AMG-Mercedes C-DTM 2006 and Toyota GT One.

Check out these new screens. ...

news via dailytech

TVersity opens up the real-time video streaming to the Xbox 360 without the need for MCE

Previously, only Windows Media Center PCs could send videos of any format to Xbox 360 for viewing on the big screen (using software such as Transcode 360). Then, in the Fall Dashboard Update, Microsoft opened up video streaming from any Windows XP PC as long as the file was in WMV format. Software such as Encode360 automates the entire process of converting your videos for Microsoft’s console, but does not offer the process streamed in real-time.

Today, a small wonder in software was released that should garner cheers from Xbox 360 media addicts. Video manager software TVersity Media Server released its latest beta version 0.9.9 and added to its list of features is on-the-fly video transcoding for the Xbox 360, giving users the ability to play videos in all formats, including MPEG-4, on the console. TVersity also supports media receivers such as the Philips SLA5500 and Sony Vaio VGP-MR100U.

Granted, to transcode a high-resolution video to the Xbox 360 in real-time requires some decent processing power, but everything works as advertised and without the need for Windows Media Center. The software allows for various quality and resolution settings for scaling to a PC’s speed. Videos may also be upconverted to high-definition for those with fast computers.

In addition to the video streaming, TVersity will also send audio to the Xbox 360, allowing the user to listen to music, podcasts and internet radio through the console. ...

news via gamespot

Gamestation, HMV, and Game all announce their launch-night shenanigans.

The wait for a Wii is almost over for UK gamers. Eager British Nintendans had to watch the US launch of the console on November 19, and the Japanese launch will also pass them by on December 2. However, next Friday, December 8, Nintendo's next-gen console will finally hit the shelves across most of Europe.

That isn't soon enough for some, though--with preorders on Amazon UK selling out within minutes, and the Christmas season fast approaching, some dedicated gamers will no doubt be standing in front of the store waiting for the very second the console will be released. These hardcore fans will be relieved to know that the UK and Ireland won't be missing out on midnight launch fun. Today, three major British and Irish gaming retailers revealed their plans for the evening of December 7.

Game will be holding midnight events at its Oxford Street, London, and Dublin, Ireland, branches only. The two events will feature music, entertainment, competitions, free pizza, and demonstration Wii pods to play on. Game's marketing director, Anna Macario, said, "We are anticipating huge crowds of customers will come to our Oxford Street [and Dublin] store to get their hands on their Nintendo Wii at the first possible moment."

As far as UK-only events, Gamestation will be hosting parties at its Birmingham and Edinburgh stores. At the Birmingham New Street branch, local radio station Kerrang DJs will be spinning tracks, models will be serving food, and there will be competitions including a play-off in each of the store windows to win a Wii. There will also be a guest appearance by Nintendo icon "Mario"--either an impersonator or (more likely) a CG re-creation--via a satellite link with the US. Both events are expected to start at around 10 p.m. and finish up at around 2 a.m.

The main official Nintendo event is still under wraps, but the company has revealed to GameSpot that it will take place at the Oxford Street HMV store and will feature an appearance by an as-yet-unconfirmed Nintendo executive. "There'll be all kinds of exciting things going on," a spokesperson said. ...