New PS3 Game Preorder at SuccessHK:



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New PS3 Game Preorder at SuccessHK:



While this action adventure game flexes a bit of the PlayStation 3's graphical muscle with its mythical Japanese scenery, its rather shallow, derivative gameplay makes it difficult to recommend.

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Reports are emerging today that demand for Nintendo’s Wii is going to far outstrip supply this coming Christmas season. Well, there’s a surprise. Not!

Play.com has already been shamefully guilty of cancelling pre-orders, with many receiving the following email in recent days:


"Dear Customer, due to a European shortage of the Nintendo Wii Consoles, we regret to inform you that Play.com will be unable to supply your pre-ordered Nintendo Wii at launch. We are guaranteed more stock before Christmas, but Nintendo have informed us, along with all other official Nintendo retailers, that the console will not be freely available until next year."

If you are busting for a Wii this December and haven’t yet pre-ordered, then it looks like you’d better get ready for some camping out in the cold. On that note, SPOnG is already hearing stories of PS3 queues forming outside Best Buys in California – NINE days before launch.

We’ll be trying to interview some of these crazy fools, who clearly have no lives or work or families to worry about, in the coming days.

SPOnG’s also hearing on the grapevine that N64 VC games will NOT feature force feedback (as per the classic Rumble Pak) as they will make use of the Wii’s Classic Controller, which has no rumble motor. More from Nintendo on this anon.

In more positive Wii news, SPOnG told you earlier this week about a bunch of confirmed Virtual Console titles for early 2007 as confirmed on the ESRB ratings website. A bunch more Nintendo classics have now been added to that list, which are:

• Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Kirby's Super Star (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64; rated E for Everyone)
• Starfox 64 (Nintendo 64; rated E for Everyone)
• Super Metroid (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Kirby's Dream Land 3 (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64; rated E for Everyone)
• Excitebike (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Ice Climber (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Dr. Mario (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Mario Brothers (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Ice Hockey (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Soccer (NES; rated E for Everyone)

Impressive stuff we're sure you agree. To be fair, many if not most of the above were already known about or at least assumed/rumoured to be heading the way of the Virtual Console. But it’s still great news to see the above list and know that we’ll be playing most of those games again early in the New Year. ...

Reports are emerging today that demand for Nintendo’s Wii is going to far outstrip supply this coming Christmas season. Well, there’s a surprise. Not!

Play.com has already been shamefully guilty of cancelling pre-orders, with many receiving the following email in recent days:


"Dear Customer, due to a European shortage of the Nintendo Wii Consoles, we regret to inform you that Play.com will be unable to supply your pre-ordered Nintendo Wii at launch. We are guaranteed more stock before Christmas, but Nintendo have informed us, along with all other official Nintendo retailers, that the console will not be freely available until next year."

If you are busting for a Wii this December and haven’t yet pre-ordered, then it looks like you’d better get ready for some camping out in the cold. On that note, SPOnG is already hearing stories of PS3 queues forming outside Best Buys in California – NINE days before launch.

We’ll be trying to interview some of these crazy fools, who clearly have no lives or work or families to worry about, in the coming days.

SPOnG’s also hearing on the grapevine that N64 VC games will NOT feature force feedback (as per the classic Rumble Pak) as they will make use of the Wii’s Classic Controller, which has no rumble motor. More from Nintendo on this anon.

In more positive Wii news, SPOnG told you earlier this week about a bunch of confirmed Virtual Console titles for early 2007 as confirmed on the ESRB ratings website. A bunch more Nintendo classics have now been added to that list, which are:

• Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Kirby's Super Star (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64; rated E for Everyone)
• Starfox 64 (Nintendo 64; rated E for Everyone)
• Super Metroid (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Kirby's Dream Land 3 (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64; rated E for Everyone)
• Excitebike (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Ice Climber (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Dr. Mario (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Mario Brothers (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Ice Hockey (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Soccer (NES; rated E for Everyone)

Impressive stuff we're sure you agree. To be fair, many if not most of the above were already known about or at least assumed/rumoured to be heading the way of the Virtual Console. But it’s still great news to see the above list and know that we’ll be playing most of those games again early in the New Year. ...

Reports are emerging today that demand for Nintendo’s Wii is going to far outstrip supply this coming Christmas season. Well, there’s a surprise. Not!

Play.com has already been shamefully guilty of cancelling pre-orders, with many receiving the following email in recent days:


"Dear Customer, due to a European shortage of the Nintendo Wii Consoles, we regret to inform you that Play.com will be unable to supply your pre-ordered Nintendo Wii at launch. We are guaranteed more stock before Christmas, but Nintendo have informed us, along with all other official Nintendo retailers, that the console will not be freely available until next year."

If you are busting for a Wii this December and haven’t yet pre-ordered, then it looks like you’d better get ready for some camping out in the cold. On that note, SPOnG is already hearing stories of PS3 queues forming outside Best Buys in California – NINE days before launch.

We’ll be trying to interview some of these crazy fools, who clearly have no lives or work or families to worry about, in the coming days.

SPOnG’s also hearing on the grapevine that N64 VC games will NOT feature force feedback (as per the classic Rumble Pak) as they will make use of the Wii’s Classic Controller, which has no rumble motor. More from Nintendo on this anon.

In more positive Wii news, SPOnG told you earlier this week about a bunch of confirmed Virtual Console titles for early 2007 as confirmed on the ESRB ratings website. A bunch more Nintendo classics have now been added to that list, which are:

• Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Kirby's Super Star (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64; rated E for Everyone)
• Starfox 64 (Nintendo 64; rated E for Everyone)
• Super Metroid (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Kirby's Dream Land 3 (Super NES; rated E for Everyone)
• The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64; rated E for Everyone)
• Excitebike (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Ice Climber (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Dr. Mario (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Mario Brothers (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Ice Hockey (NES; rated E for Everyone)
• Soccer (NES; rated E for Everyone)

Impressive stuff we're sure you agree. To be fair, many if not most of the above were already known about or at least assumed/rumoured to be heading the way of the Virtual Console. But it’s still great news to see the above list and know that we’ll be playing most of those games again early in the New Year. ...

Via Spong

Everything that captures the British zeitgeist is not destined for the same direct commercial success as, for example the “Wassup” Bud advert. It has to be said that the recently-revealed Little Britain videogame is such an example.

According to reports, Blast Games has signed the franchise for release on PlayStation 2, PC and PSP, with the latter portable title coming after the home versions, which are currently slated for January of 2007. Blast has some excellent IP in its stable, including right to The Flintstones and Beverly Hills Cop and it has to be noted that signing Little Britain is something of a coup.

However, the chances of it turning into a worthy gaming option do look slim. If we could offer Blast any advice, it would be to contract Jeff Minter to develop the mini-game-driven title. He might be expensive but his involvement will appeal to gamers, a slightly bigger target audience than the unfortunate kid who was doing his best Ali G impersonation just weeks ago ...

The rock and rollocking success of Red Octane’s Guitar Hero game seems to have inspired the guys at Plato studio over in Japan to try to recreate the rock and roll experience for Nintendo’s handheld.

Plato, the team behind the hugely successful English language teaching software for DS, is developing the handheld guitar game, called Hiite Utaeru DS Guitar M-06.

According to reports on 1UP, “The game allows anyone to strum out a few pleasant sounds, while proper guitar players can also feel at home with the ability to control the sound like a real guitar. 120 chords are built in, with three plucking variations of each. These are navigated with the d-pad, while the pen is brushed across the touch screen to strum.”

Plato claims to have demonstrated the game to professional guitarists who have reacted favourably, particularly liking the fact that the DS guitar-simulator could be carried around in a pocket.

Hiite Utaeru DS Guitar M-06 goes on sale in Japan at the end of December.

SPOnG will be looking to get more information on this intriguing little title, along with details of any plans for a US/European release in 2007.

Via Spong ...

Play Asia have posted a full list of the gaming releases for this week. Heres the listings:

Xbox360™:
Call of Duty 3 ASIA US$ 44.90
F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon ASIA US$ 44.90
Gears of War [Limited Collector's Edition] ASIA N/A

PlayStation3™:
Monaural AV Cable JPN US$ 8.90
S Terminal Cable JPN US$ 14.90
SD Memory Card 1GB JPN US$ 49.90
SD Memory Card 256MB JPN US$ 27.90
SD Memory Card 512MB JPN US$ 34.90
Stereo AV Cable JPN US$ 9.90
Wireless Keyboard 2.4GHz US$ 69.90

PlayStation2™:
Area 51 JPN US$ 64.90
I's Pure JPN US$ 64.90
Mai-Kinoto Hime JPN US$ 64.90
Mai-Kinoto Hime [Limited Edition] JPN N/A
New Jinsei Game (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 39.90
Okami (English language Version) KOR US$ 59.90
Okami (Japanese language Version) KOR US$ 59.90
SSX On Tour (EA Best Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Simple 2000 Series Ultimate Vol. 33: Ururun Quest JPN US$ 25.90
Simple 2000 Series Ultimate Vol. 34: Sakigake!! Otokojuku JPN US$ 25.90

More supply of the Mai-Kinoto Hime [Limited Edition] is confirmed to arrive on or before Monday.

Nintendo DS™:
Black Jack: Hi no Tori Hen JPN US$ 48.90
Elite Beat Agents US US$ 39.90
Konductra US US$ 39.90
Me de Unou wo Kitaeru: DS Sokudoku Jutsu JPN US$ 29.90
Mezase! Shoujo Manga Ka! Chao Manga School JPN US$ 48.90
Scurge: Hive US US$ 39.90
Touch Detective US US$ 39.90
Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Koushiki Soft: 200 Mannin no KanKen: Tokoton Kanji Nou JPN US$ 39.90

Sony PSP™:
BattleZone US US$ 39.90
Death Jr. II: Root of Evil US US$ 39.90
Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony US US$ 39.90
Every Extend Extra US N/A
FIFA Soccer 07 KOR US$ 49.90
Gangs of London ASIA US$ 42.90
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories US US$ 49.90
Harukanaru Jikuu no Uchi de 2 (Koei Selection) JPN US$ 19.90
Killzone Liberation US US$ 39.90
La Corda d'Oro (Koei the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Lumines II US US$ 39.90
NBA Live 07 KOR US$ 49.90
Need For Speed: Carbon Own the City (Chinese Packing) ASIA US$ 42.90
Nobunaga no Yabou: Tenshoki (Koei the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Powerstone Collection US US$ 34.90
Rush US N/A
Sangokushi V / Romance of the Three Kingdoms V (Koei Selection) JPN US$ 19.90
Sangokushi VI / Romance of the Three Kingdoms VI (Koei the Best) JPN US$ 29.90

Toys, Books, Magazines & Misc:
Dot-S Puzzle: Super Mario Bros. 3 (04-Type A) US$ 9.90
Dot-S Puzzle: Super Mario Bros. 3 (04-Type B) US$ 9.90
Dot-S Puzzle: Super Mario Bros. 3 (05-Type A) US$ 9.90
Dot-S Puzzle: Super Mario Bros. 3 (05-Type B) US$ 9.90
Fairy Musketeers Figure Collection Vol.1 US$ 4.90
Fate/Hollow Ataraxia 1/6 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Caren Ortensia [Prologue Ver.] US$ 64.90
Final Fantasy XII Official Strategy Guide US US$ 22.90
Gears of War Sweater (L) N/A
Gears of War Sweater (XL) N/A
Gears of War Sweater (XXL) N/A
Ikkitousen: 1/7 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Kanu Untyou (Red Version) US$ 44.90
Keroro Collection Keychain Bell Gashapon US$ 2.49
Mai-Hime Z 1/10 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Shizuru Viola US$ 59.90
Naruto Collection Candy Toy - Kuchiyose no Zyutsu US$ 5.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion 1/6 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure: Asuka Langley (Waterdrop Ver.) US$ 79.90
OS-Idol: 1/7 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Win Chan Ver. 2 US$ 36.90
Shakugan no Shana 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Shana (Contract of Fate Version) US$ 54.90
Shakugan no Shana 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Shana (The Girl from Tendokyu Version) US$ 54.90
To Heart 2 1/8 Scale Pre-Painted Figure: Lucy Maria Misora US$ 49.90
Toypla Original Mutsuki School Girl Pre-painted PVC Figure US$ 54.90

Video Game related Soundtracks:
Mermaid Prism Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 27.90
Naruto Konoha Spirit Original Game Soundtrack JPN US$ 18.90
Ryu-Koku -Original Drama Collection- JPN US$ 27.90
Tenshou Gakuen Gekkou Hasumi Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 31.90
Tsuyokisu -Mighty Heart- Original Song Series Vol.5 JPN US$ 15.90
Tsuyokisu -Mighty Heart- Original Song Series Vol.6 JPN US$ 15.90 ...

Via Gamespot

Earlier today, during a meeting with Atari, we had an opportunity to get our hands on an alpha version of Dungeons & Dragons Tactics for the PlayStation Portable. Currently scheduled for release in February, the turn-based strategy game adheres quite strictly to the D&D 3.5 rule set but is most definitely being developed with newcomers as well as hardcore D&D fans in mind. During the hour or so that we were able to spend with the game on this occasion, we took a good look at the character-generation system (there are no drow or half-dragons, sorry) and then put our new character and his party to work in a couple of early missions.

There are seven different races available when you create a new character in Dungeons & Dragons Tactics, including humans, dwarves, gnomes, elves, half-elves, halflings, and half-orcs. After opting for one of those and settling on your gender, you'll be able to choose from no fewer than 13 different classes for your new character, which include barbarian, bard, cleric, druid, fighter, monk, paladin, psion, psychic warrior, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, and wizard. Depending on your class choice, you'll be able to choose from up to nine different alignments for your character, which include good, neutral, and evil variants of lawful, neutral, and chaotic.

With all of that taken care of, your next task will be to assign points to your character's various attributes, skills, and feats. It's right about here that D&D newcomers could potentially start to feel out of their depth, so although the whole process is about as user-friendly as possible, Kuju has also included options to have your points assigned automatically--taking into account your race and class choices. The last thing you'll need to do before setting out on your first quest (there will be more than 40 in total) is to choose the portrait that will represent your character in cutscenes and party-selection screens and, completely independent of that, determine the look of his or her 3D character model by choosing from a handful of different head and body options. The 3D models for party members and their enemies are nicely detailed, particularly given that you're unlikely to see them up close very often during the normal course of play.

Everything about Dungeons & Dragons Tactics is looking great right now, in fact, and the environments that you'll be questing in are certainly worthy of a mention. We saw two very different environments during our meeting: an outdoor battlefield at Estmanndal (the game's first level) and a series of underground caves and tunnels. The battlefield counted wide-open spaces with trees, walls, and barricades to provide cover among its features, and all of them looked great and cast realistic shadows. Our goal on that particular mission was to stop an enemy who was carrying a flag from escaping, and after checking out our party's skills, it quickly became obvious that there were several ways for us to go about achieving that goal. To be perfectly honest, a lot of the skill and spell names didn't mean an awful lot to us when we saw them appearing in the easy-to-navigate action menus, but with a quick press of the triangle button, we were able to call up brief explanations of each of them--a good example of Kuju going the extra mile to make the game as accessible as possible without bogging down experienced players with details that they already know.



Torches are useful in caves, but carrying one might mean leaving your shield or another useful item behind.
The underground caves and tunnels had a very different feel about them, not only because we had to concern ourselves with light spells and torches, but also because the gameplay involved a lot more exploration--which was invariably rewarded with treasure chests full of loot. The enemies that our party of level-one characters came up against while underground were skeletons and zombies mostly, so it was fortunate that the party we'd assembled to go into the level included a cleric. You'll get to choose different members (either premade or created from scratch) for your party before every quest, and while you'll never know exactly what kind of enemies to expect, taking the time to read through the prequest conversations between characters and such will often afford you a few hints.

Our progress through each of the areas that we saw today was slow, not only because we were experimenting with different characters that we knew very little about, but also because--in the interests of grabbing as much loot as possible--most of our characters became encumbered and weren't able to move as quickly as normal. As a result, we didn't get to see nearly as much of Dungeons & Dragons Tactics as we'd have liked. ...