Though it’s never likely to emerge as a games platform to rival the likes of iPad or the DS, Amazon has released two games that are compatible with its Kindle ereader device.
Shuffled Row and Every Word are both available to download for free right now. Both, unsurprisingly, are word puzzlers.
It will be interesting to see how far Amazon takes the device in the sector. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the likes of crossword and sudoku titles making an appearance, but could the retailer’s aspirations stretch even further?
Note, though, that according to Engadget the games only appear to be compatible with the second generation and DX variants of the Kindle and not the Kindle 1.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/40274/Gami...ives-on-Kindle ...

via MCV


The developer drafted in by Konami to work on the upcoming Castlevania: Lords of Shadows has said that while the game will be shipping on a single Blu-ray disc for PS3, the Xbox 360 SKU will have to be put onto two DVDs.

Furthermore, it thinks that the problem is only going to worsen for Microsoft.
And despite that fact that famed Metal Gear Solid developer Hideo Kojima has been drafted in to work on the games, Cox insists that it isn’t the length of cut-scenes that is to blame. Instead, the title’s 24 hour story mode has been pegged as the main culprit.

Of course, now that Xbox 360 is able to install games onto HDD any potential inconvenience that will be occurred is dramatically lessened for those with enough storage left on their machines. Indeed, Cox stated that when installed the game will be playable form only the second disc. ...

Symbian has come out fighting in the smartphone war, proudly announcing that more than 27 million Symbian devices shipped in the second quarter of the year.
As the Symbian Foundation points out, that's nearly 300,000 a day (298,080 a day to be specific, given Symbian's claim of 207 handsets a minute).
"These figures make for very positive news for the Symbian community," says Symbian executive director Lee Williams (pictured).
"The smartphone market place has become more crowded than ever. So the fact we continue to outsell our competitors by such large margins, combined with all the feature commitments and developments published on our roadmaps, make us highly confident in our outlook and we will continue to embrace the challenges ahead."
Google recently announced that it was activating 160,000 Android handsets a day, by comparison. Meanwhile, Apple sold nearly 8.4 million iPhones during Q2 - around 93,000 a day.
The caveat for app developers is where those handsets are being sold, and how actively their buyers are using applications.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/38067...ship-every-day ...

via MCV


Seeing as the wait for Gran Turismo 5 has been such a long one, Sony is hoping that dedicated fans of the series have had plenty of time to save up for the recently announced £149.99 Signature Edition of the game.

Included in the metallic black metal case is a 1:43 scale Mercedes SLS AMG model car, a Gran Turismo branded leather wallet, a USB stick including trailers for the game, a metal keyring, a Signature Edition coffee book table, a 200 page Apex drivers magazine including game hints, five in-game Collector’s Edition cars and six bonus in-game ‘stealth’ cars.

Also bundled is the chance to win a real life Mercedes SLS AMG.

Sony has already announced a Collector’s Edition version of the game that includes a glossy car guide, keychain, five DLC cars and a 1:43 scale model of the 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V. That will retail for £59.99.

Gran Turismo 5 is due out on PS3 on November 2nd. ...

via IGN


If you've been dreaming about a new Shining Force in the vein of the classic strategy games of old, keep dreaming! There's a new Shining game on the way for PSP, but it's more along the lines of Shining Wind and Shining Tears, with characters from Tony, the same designer who worked on those games.

Shining Hearts is a traditional 2D overhead RPG with menu-based battles, but it also has romance and lifestyle elements. You play as Rick, a young warrior who works in a bakery on Wyndaria Island. Throughout the course of the game, you'll form a relationship with one of the three girls who work alongside you at at the bakery, while engaging in battle out at sea and taking on quests from your fellow islanders.

Wyndaria is usually a peaceful place. This changes with the appearance of a mysterious girl named Kaguya, who arrives on the island one morning following a great storm. Kaguya has lost her memory and her heart, and pirates are after the spirit stone she wears on her neck. You'll need to help Kaguya restore her heart while protecting her and the island from pirates.

To help Kaguya restore her heart, you'll need to collect "Hearts." These can be obtained by taking on quests across the island. As you give your hearts to Kaguya, her spirit stone will release "heart keys," which can be used to open up new areas of the world.

To protect the island and Kaguya, you'll need to engage in battle with the pirates on land and sea. The game's combat system is command-based, with the action switching from the adventure component's overhead view to a side view. Visually, it looks a bit like the Tales series, although when you perform special attacks, you'll be treated with Super Robot Wars-style character cut-ins. The relationship component of the game plays a part here, as your three party members will see their favor for you change depending on your performance.

Sea-based play looks like a major part of the Shining Hearts experience. Your base of operations is a ship which you'll be expanding throughout the game. As you collect those heart keys from Kaguya, you'll be able to head off to new islands via your ship.

Outside of combat and questing, you can take part in a variety of activities on the island. Activities include fishing and collecting crops (which you won't have to actually plant) and other items for use in baking bread and forging new weapons.

All this could make for an enjoyable JPRG experience on PSP when Shining Hearts hits Japan this Winter. But we won't blame you if you still find yourself wanting a strategy-based Shining Force game from Sega. Maybe next time? ...

via Computer and Video Games


Game Freak's Junichi Masuda has revealed a major change for the Pokémon series. In his latest blog, the Black & White designer has declared that you'll only encounter new Pokémon in the game's story mode.

In past games you'd regularly encounter old Pokémon in the game's story mode but it seems that now you'll only be able to catch them once you've completed the main game.

Masuda explained the decision, saying that he wants to make sure that kids and adults have the same experience when playing the game. He wants all players to ask "What is this Pokémon?" when they encounter a monster. It's all part of a plan to give players the same feeling that they had when they played their first Pokémon game.

According to Masuda development staff and players outside the company liked the idea. "It's like playing something completely new, similar to when I played Red & Green," is one comment that Masuda has heard. "You don't even know the type of the Pokemon, so you're surprised at the skills," is another.

Masuda concedes that designing the Pokemon has been tough, but Game Freak staff say that they're happy if players enjoy themselves.

So it's new Pokémon only, then. You can see which new Pokémon you'll be able to catch here. ...

New from Divineo USA



Xecuter have released the latest in their line of LT Switch Liteon DVD mod products, the LT Clip + LT Switch v2.

This kit has been designed with the beginner in mind. It's been in development for a while due to the absolute precision and stability needed to make sure it works for the the lifetime of the DVD Drive with no soldering or glue for trace repairs. There is even included a built in continuity tester to make sure your trace cuts are perfect !

Also Includes MULTI-R Function. After the discovery that a small number of Liteon drives would not dump the fw with a 20 ohm resistor - but required an 18 Ohm or 22 Ohm resistor - so you can now select between 18, 20 and 22 Ohms ! (Default should be set to 20 Ohms - this will work 99% of the time)

This is the first and only Liteon solution where there is 100% No Soldering & No Glue - The fastest and easiest "MRA Hack" product on the market.

•The Only Liteon Solution Recommended By Team Jungle !
•Unique designed clip
•No Solder & No Glue
•External LT Switch
•Built in continuity tester to make sure your trace cuts are perfect
•Enables Read/Write on ALL Liteon 74850, 83850, 93450 DVD Drives
•Easy & Simple Install - Install Once & Forget
•Enable / Disable Switch
•Multi-R Switch (18, 20, 22 Ohms)
•On/Off LED
•Completely Undetectable
•No Need To Uninstall
•Works with ALL tools including the latest Jungle Flasher ...

New from Divineo USA



This is the QSB (QUICK SOLDER BOARD) Install Kit that is included with the Xecuter NAND-X. Note these are spare parts and are already included with the retail NAND-X Kit.

Includes the J1D2 and J2B1 Quick Solder Boards for NAND-X Installs. Perfect for those that do multiple installs and what a nice permanent solution for their customer. ...

New from Divineo USA

This is the JTAG kit that is included with the NAND-X. Known as "Kit #8" by those in the know as that was its code name during the NAND-X testing trials. This kit installs to the top of the motherboard.

Works with all Xenon motherboards.

This kit IS INCLUDED with the NAND-X Retail kit. You do not need to own a NAND-X to use this product. ...