Sony's next-generation home console will be revealed to the world before the E3 show in Los Angeles this May, representatives of the company have confirmed, with rumours strongly hinting at a late March unveiling.[br][br]In the wake of the official public debut of the Cell microprocessor which will power the console earlier this week, speculation has been rife about Sony's plans for revealing more precise details of the platform itself.[br][br]Now representatives of SCEA have confirmed to US website GameSpot that the company "will have an event to premiere [its] next-generation system" ahead of the E3 show in three months time.[br][br]While Sony has revealed previously that the console will definitely be at E3 in some form, it's been widely rumoured that the unveiling would come before then - with a Sony roadmap from last year suggesting that it would come near the end of the firm's financial year in late March.[br][br]That timescale still seems very possible - the company has revealed that the unveiling will not be at GDC next month, but a special Tokyo event to show off the console's specifications in late March would be in keeping with the firm's past approach on such announcements.[br][br]However, it's important to note that a pre-E3 event to premiere the system could mean just that - since Sony, along with rival platform holders Nintendo and Microsoft, traditionally holds an event in Los Angeles in the days before E3, and used this event to premiere the PlayStation Portable.[br][br]Both Microsoft and Nintendo are expected to make announcements concerning their next-generation plans at E3. ...

Ubisoft has announced that Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Peter Jackson's King Kong and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory will all be making an appearance on the Nintendo DS.[br]Gameplay details are scarce on all three titles. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is the officially licensed game of some film that's coming out this summer. Apparently it's the story of some bloke called Anakin Skywalker who gets some lassie up the duff, goes all moody, falls in some lava and buys a black helmet. Thus, we expect a platform game. [br][br]Seriously though, the DS version will more than likely transpose the scenes of the film into clever touchscreen-fuelled gaming experiences. It'll be ready when the movie hits cinemas - May 19 in the States and shortly afterwards in Europe.[br][br]Even less info is available for the DS version of Splinter Cell, but it's due "later this year". Hopefully we can expect some nifty touchscreen stealth, and possibly the mic being used for distracting guards and the like.[br]Last up is Peter Jackson's King Kong. It's another flick license, this time based on the Lord of the Rings' director's remake of the monkey monster-mash movie. More touchscreen madness should be expected, hopefully including a 'Spank the Massive Monkey' minigame. The film's due out on December 14, 2005 in the States so the game should be arrive around the same time.[br][br]These titles join Ubisoft's three DS launch titles: Rayman DS, Sprung and Asphalt: Urban GT.[br][br]The DS launches across Europe on March 11. More info and some screens for these new Ubisoft titles soon. ...

The great French emulation site Consollection is now 7 Years old.[br][br]Happy Aniversary ...

A little off topic but is this collection of older Sega games ported to the PS2/Xbox or have Sega used emulation?[br][br]News from GI.Biz [br][br] Sega has proved the strength of its Sonic brand in the UK once again, with retro compilation Sonic Mega Collection Plus debuting at number one and ending Need for Speed Underground 2's record-breaking run in the top spot.[br][br]The PS2 and Xbox compilation, which includes all of the Sonic-themed Mega Drive titles (as found in the GameCube version of the Sonic Mega Collection back in 2003) along with a number of newly converted games, is actually one of two Sonic titles in the UK top ten this week. [br][br]Good news for Sega it seems. ...

Out of the minefield of reports and rumours threatening to destroy the unwary on the Internet - be careful where you tread - we rather like the recent wild and wonderful suggestion that EA is planning to develop a Nintendo DS version of its next Command & Conquer: Red Alert game.[br]News of the existence of a new Red Alert game smacked us between the eyes last December, when EA vice president and executive producer Mark Skaggs revealed that the project was already underway.[br][br]At the time Skaggs said that the team behind the new Red Alert title will "leverage and continue to evolve this powerful engine [the Sage graphics engine originally developed for Generals and an enhanced version of which is powering Battle for Middle-earth] as we start work on our new Command & Conquer game."[br][br]Hardly a statement that causes Nintendo DS to immediately spring to mind, is it?[br]Still, the rumours would have us believe that EA Pacific is watching over development of the DS version of the title and that naturally the handheld's stylus and touchscreen are being put to good use.[br][br]And what, pray, does EA UK have to say about all this? When we confronted a spokesperson with the rumour earlier, we were told: "EA have not made any announcement or confirmation on this title." ...

For anyone that may have noticed, Gamikaze was down for a few days. The site was inaccessible because of some issues that needed to be resolved with the host. Those issues have been straightened out, and the site is back up and running again. Keep your eyes peeled for some major news coming from Gamikaze in the next week or so. ...

I got this flash card but I can't make it save two games at the same time. I always play Castlevania titles, and I'd like to have the 3 of them at the same time in my card. The only problem is that when I save one of them, it overwrites the others' saves.

Can anybody help me? Does anybody have any ideas??? ...

later today at the laugh-riot known as Solid-States Circuit Conference, Sony will finally unleash their big gun - information.[br][br]For later today in sea-breeze swept San Francisco, Sony will formally unveil The Cell, a chip rumoured to be so powerful that it can fly a space-shuttle via Bluetooth while also ensuring two hot, buttery wholemeal slices pop up the moment that you get home. [br][br]Designed in cooperation with IBM and Toshiba, the chip will be at the heart of everything from the PS3 to the next generation of desktop PCs. It will even appear in a slightly reduced form in TVs and PDAs. [br][br]By studying the early plans for the chip already on show in the US patent office, industry experts believe that the 64-bit chip could be 10 times faster than the current generation of PC processors, even running at an astonishing 4.6 gigahertz.[br][br]So far both Nintendo and Microsoft are yet to reveal any detail on the tech-specs of their new technology but new rumours have emerged about the names for their next-gen consoles. [br][br]So while we've all heard of Xenon and Xbox 2, the latest rumoured moniker to appear for the Microsoft console is Xbox 360. [br][br]But since the same internet sources have hinted that Nintendo's Revolution may receive the tag Nintendo 21, we think this name might go the same way as those other temporary titles: PSX (PSone), Dolphin (N64), Katana (Dreamcast) and Starcube (Gamecube). ...

The Nintendo DS is taking to the road from 04 February in a massive consumer and trade sampling campaign. It will give everyone across the UK the chance to discover what nearly three million gamers in the US and Japan have already discovered – the Nintendo DS is a great new way to play video games.[br][br]Kicking off with a national shopping mall tour throughout February, March and into April and taking in amongst the 40 day tour; Bluewater, Brent Cross, The Mall (Cribs Causeway) in the South and The Bullring, Trafford Centre and Meadow Hall in the North. Sampling will also take place at 24 'Lock In' invite only nights at Topman stores nationwide including London, Manchester and Birmingham flagship stores.[br][br]Gamers across the country will also be able to get their hands on the Nintendo DS at all 42 of the UK's VUE cinemas between 11 and 12 March, 19 and 20 March and 26 and 27 March in addition to further nationwide sampling activity at Mega Bowl Bowling Alleys, Laser Quest Arenas and All Sports retail stores up to and beyond the launch period. Gamers can find out where and when the tour will arrive at a location near them by logging onto www.touchmehere.co.uk [br][br]Games on show will include Nintendo first party titles 'Super Mario 64 DS', 'Wario Ware: Touched!' puzzle game 'Polarium' and 'Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt'. Third party titles include 'Project Rub' from Sega, 'Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 2005' from EA, 'Asphalt Urban GT' from Ubisoft and 'Spiderman 2' from Activision.[br][br]Dawn Paine, Head of Marketing, Nintendo UK, said: "All our research has shown that sampling will be key in getting people to understand and really enjoy Nintendo DS – once people get their hands on it they can't put it down." [br][br]In addition to this fully comprehensive consumer sampling campaign, Nintendo will also ensure trade and retail get their DS fix courtesy of the 'DS – Dual Squads' with over 25,000 in-store sampling hits between now and the launch for store staff. Retailer GAME will be hosting 15 regional superstore evenings where top loyalty card holders will be invited in-store to try out the DS and its great games.[br][br]Andy Yates, Head of Retail Development, Nintendo UK, said: "Whenever you make a quantum leap in technology like Nintendo have done with the DS, people inevitably ask lots of questions, however, getting the console into people's hands immediately changes their perception and opens up their minds to a new way of playing games through touch. For this reason sampling will be pivotal to the success of our trade strategy." [br][br]Nintendo is also placing a record number of free standing interactive Nintendo DS pods into trade from 01 February. The new striking and eye-catching design will ensure good in-store standout. Nintendo estimate that over 500,000 people will have played the Nintendo DS by the time of launch.[br][br]The Nintendo DS will launch in the UK on 11 March 2005 at the estimated retail price of around £99. Nintendo DS software will launch in the UK on 11 March 2005 at the estimated retail price of around £29 and £19 depending on the title.[br][br]The Nintendo DS is the new touch screen, dual-screened handheld video game system that redefines how people play videogames. In addition to the touch screen, the system includes both voice input and multiplayer wireless communication. The sleek silver and black system will be a welcome addition to any game collection.[br][br]Click onto www.touchmehere.co.uk for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo DS sampling. ...