Newly released today:



Shooting Watch, or shoowatch in Japanese is a perfect gadget for hard core gamers to practice their button mashing skills on.

This tiny machine counts the number of times you can hit on the A/B buttons under a time limit, and after practicing a few times, you will realize how much your gaming skills have improved thanks to this watch.

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-2z8s.html ...

Welcome to this week's Games Update, our weekly summary featuring all new product arrivals from the last seven days.

The Big day has come. Dissidia Final Fantasy has come along with the tsunami of wonderfully addictive Japanese games. For information on the fighting party between the generations of Final Fantasy heroes, please see this special news. And for the rest of the goodies, read on!

Borrowing heavily from mythical elements throughout the world, combined with a challenging battle system as well as beautiful character designs, the Persona or Shin Megami Tensei series has recieved an immense rise in popularity in the recent years.

Translated, localized and released this week is the US version of Persona 4. Taking place in rural Japan, the game transforms Shintoist gods such as Izanagi and Susanao into your Persona. Coming with an Art Book and Original Soundtrack CD, immerse in the dazzling murder mystery of Persona 4.

Besides Persona 4, a number of highly popular Japanese games came out in these 7 days, as mentioned in the preview last week. Christmas is a time for parties and the DJ game Beatmania IIDX 15 DJ Troopers is one of them.

Instead of the glamour in the last installment, the theme of this game is battle. Blast on the notes and cues as they fall from the sky like an air raid and train your reflexes as well as your sense of rhythm.

Bleach Versus Crusade tests your sense of timing like the DJ game as it is essential when you launch your strings of combos. Fighting back to back, you can take on anyone, including the strongest hollows in the Arrancur arc.

Fate Unlimited Codes combines the speed factor of 2D fighters with 3D graphics. The fight for the holy grail is getting more intense than ever, the full force of the servants as well as their masters are unleashed in this installment.

Saber has a costume change, instead of the blue uniform she wears in the anime, she wears a lily white armored dress that shows off her patrician grace. The people who buy the SP Box version will even recieve an action figure of the servant in said dress.

With the same emphasis on chivalry as Saber is Tales of Hearts. Rescue people's hearts and dreams by defeating the contamination with the endearing cast of characters. With an Anime Movie Edition and a CG version, players have the choice of seeing the characters in "real-life" graphics and traditional 2D animations.

Also on the Nintendo DS is the party RPG Gensou Suikoden Tierkreis. With a 108 characters you can enlist into your guild, this game boasts a cast of colorful character designs. Rescue the world from the ambitions of the One King through team work.

Gundam Musou 2, the second installment to the hack and slash mecha action is available for gamers to enjoy. There are whole galores of Gundams waiting to be selected and drive into the all-out action. Besides famous mechas that appeared in the series, original Gundams specially designed for the game also shows up.

ADK has achieved a cult status in the gamers community for their products are usually extremely unique. Although not as well known as some other developers, some gamers call this team the "legendary brand". Selecting 5 games which are most representative of the developers' style, SNK compiled them into the ADK Tamashii.

As usually, here's a summary of all new releases from this week, followed by a quick preview of what is expected to be hot next week.

Xbox360™
Fable II JPN US$ 68.90
Fable II [First Print Limited Edition] JPN N/A
Gundam Musou 2 JPN US$ 78.90
Gundam Musou 2 ASIA US$ 69.90
Gundam Musou 2 [Treasure Box] JPN US$ 149.90
Lego Batman JPN US$ 64.90
Need for Speed Undercover JPN US$ 69.90
Prince of Persia JPN US$ 74.90
Rise of the Argonauts ASIA US$ 49.90
Warriors Orochi 2 ASIA US$ 54.90

PlayStation3™
Armored Core: For Answer (PlayStation3 the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Gundam Musou 2 ASIA US$ 69.90
Gundam Musou 2 JPN US$ 78.90
Gundam Musou 2 [Treasure Box] JPN US$ 149.90
Lego Batman JPN US$ 64.90
Medal of Honor: Airborne (EA Best Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Need for Speed Undercover JPN US$ 69.90
Rise of the Argonauts ASIA US$ 59.90
Sonic Unleashed ASIA US$ 49.90
The Godfather: The Don's Edition (EA Best Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
USB AC Adaptor JPN US$ 34.90
Wireless Keypad JPN US$ 59.90

Nintendo Wii™
Bleach: Versus Crusade JPN US$ 69.90
Dance Dance Revolution: Furu Furu Party JPN US$ 59.90
Dance Dance Revolution: Furu Furu Party (Bundle w/ Mat) JPN US$ 89.90
Disney TH!NK: Haya Oshi Quiz JPN US$ 44.90
Elebits (Konami the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Exar Stick JPN US$ 69.90
Karaoke Joysound Wii JPN US$ 64.90
Karaoke Joysound Wii USB Microphone JPN US$ 34.90
Let's Tap JPN US$ 54.90
Need for Speed Undercover JPN US$ 59.90
Sonic World Adventure JPN US$ 59.90
Swing Golf Pangya 2nd Shot! (Tecmo the Best) JPN US$ 34.90

PlayStation2™
ADK Tamashii JPN US$ 54.90
EA Sports Rugby 08 (EA:SY! 1980) JPN US$ 24.90
FIFA Soccer 09 JPN US$ 59.90
Fate/Unlimited Codes JPN US$ 68.90
Fate/Unlimited Codes [SP Box] JPN US$ 119.90
Gundam Musou 2 JPN US$ 69.90
Gundam Musou 2 [Treasure Box] JPN US$ 139.90
Hisshou Pachinko*Pachi-Slot Kouryaku Series Vol. 13: Neon Genesis Evangelion - Yakusoku no Toki JPN US$ 54.90
Itsuka, Todoku, Ano Sora ni (Russel Game Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Kagero 2: Dark Illusion (PlayStation2 the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 24.90
Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn! Dream Hyper Battle (Best Collection) JPN US$ 34.90
Need for Speed Undercover ...

Welcome to this week's Games Update, our weekly summary featuring all new product arrivals from the last seven days.

The Big day has come. Dissidia Final Fantasy has come along with the tsunami of wonderfully addictive Japanese games. For information on the fighting party between the generations of Final Fantasy heroes, please see this special news. And for the rest of the goodies, read on!

Borrowing heavily from mythical elements throughout the world, combined with a challenging battle system as well as beautiful character designs, the Persona or Shin Megami Tensei series has recieved an immense rise in popularity in the recent years.

Translated, localized and released this week is the US version of Persona 4. Taking place in rural Japan, the game transforms Shintoist gods such as Izanagi and Susanao into your Persona. Coming with an Art Book and Original Soundtrack CD, immerse in the dazzling murder mystery of Persona 4.

Besides Persona 4, a number of highly popular Japanese games came out in these 7 days, as mentioned in the preview last week. Christmas is a time for parties and the DJ game Beatmania IIDX 15 DJ Troopers is one of them.

Instead of the glamour in the last installment, the theme of this game is battle. Blast on the notes and cues as they fall from the sky like an air raid and train your reflexes as well as your sense of rhythm.

Bleach Versus Crusade tests your sense of timing like the DJ game as it is essential when you launch your strings of combos. Fighting back to back, you can take on anyone, including the strongest hollows in the Arrancur arc.

Fate Unlimited Codes combines the speed factor of 2D fighters with 3D graphics. The fight for the holy grail is getting more intense than ever, the full force of the servants as well as their masters are unleashed in this installment.

Saber has a costume change, instead of the blue uniform she wears in the anime, she wears a lily white armored dress that shows off her patrician grace. The people who buy the SP Box version will even recieve an action figure of the servant in said dress.

With the same emphasis on chivalry as Saber is Tales of Hearts. Rescue people's hearts and dreams by defeating the contamination with the endearing cast of characters. With an Anime Movie Edition and a CG version, players have the choice of seeing the characters in "real-life" graphics and traditional 2D animations.

Also on the Nintendo DS is the party RPG Gensou Suikoden Tierkreis. With a 108 characters you can enlist into your guild, this game boasts a cast of colorful character designs. Rescue the world from the ambitions of the One King through team work.

Gundam Musou 2, the second installment to the hack and slash mecha action is available for gamers to enjoy. There are whole galores of Gundams waiting to be selected and drive into the all-out action. Besides famous mechas that appeared in the series, original Gundams specially designed for the game also shows up.

ADK has achieved a cult status in the gamers community for their products are usually extremely unique. Although not as well known as some other developers, some gamers call this team the "legendary brand". Selecting 5 games which are most representative of the developers' style, SNK compiled them into the ADK Tamashii.

As usually, here's a summary of all new releases from this week, followed by a quick preview of what is expected to be hot next week.

Xbox360™
Fable II JPN US$ 68.90
Fable II [First Print Limited Edition] JPN N/A
Gundam Musou 2 JPN US$ 78.90
Gundam Musou 2 ASIA US$ 69.90
Gundam Musou 2 [Treasure Box] JPN US$ 149.90
Lego Batman JPN US$ 64.90
Need for Speed Undercover JPN US$ 69.90
Prince of Persia JPN US$ 74.90
Rise of the Argonauts ASIA US$ 49.90
Warriors Orochi 2 ASIA US$ 54.90

PlayStation3™
Armored Core: For Answer (PlayStation3 the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Gundam Musou 2 ASIA US$ 69.90
Gundam Musou 2 JPN US$ 78.90
Gundam Musou 2 [Treasure Box] JPN US$ 149.90
Lego Batman JPN US$ 64.90
Medal of Honor: Airborne (EA Best Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Need for Speed Undercover JPN US$ 69.90
Rise of the Argonauts ASIA US$ 59.90
Sonic Unleashed ASIA US$ 49.90
The Godfather: The Don's Edition (EA Best Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
USB AC Adaptor JPN US$ 34.90
Wireless Keypad JPN US$ 59.90

Nintendo Wii™
Bleach: Versus Crusade JPN US$ 69.90
Dance Dance Revolution: Furu Furu Party JPN US$ 59.90
Dance Dance Revolution: Furu Furu Party (Bundle w/ Mat) JPN US$ 89.90
Disney TH!NK: Haya Oshi Quiz JPN US$ 44.90
Elebits (Konami the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Exar Stick JPN US$ 69.90
Karaoke Joysound Wii JPN US$ 64.90
Karaoke Joysound Wii USB Microphone JPN US$ 34.90
Let's Tap JPN US$ 54.90
Need for Speed Undercover JPN US$ 59.90
Sonic World Adventure JPN US$ 59.90
Swing Golf Pangya 2nd Shot! (Tecmo the Best) JPN US$ 34.90

PlayStation2™
ADK Tamashii JPN US$ 54.90
EA Sports Rugby 08 (EA:SY! 1980) JPN US$ 24.90
FIFA Soccer 09 JPN US$ 59.90
Fate/Unlimited Codes JPN US$ 68.90
Fate/Unlimited Codes [SP Box] JPN US$ 119.90
Gundam Musou 2 JPN US$ 69.90
Gundam Musou 2 [Treasure Box] JPN US$ 139.90
Hisshou Pachinko*Pachi-Slot Kouryaku Series Vol. 13: Neon Genesis Evangelion - Yakusoku no Toki JPN US$ 54.90
Itsuka, Todoku, Ano Sora ni (Russel Game Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Kagero 2: Dark Illusion (PlayStation2 the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 24.90
Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn! Dream Hyper Battle (Best Collection) JPN US$ 34.90
Need for Speed Undercover ...

Defense attorneys for 17-year-old Daniel Petric, who stands accused of killing his mother and shooting his father in the head, argued yesterday that the teen's video game addiction directly led to the incident.

In order to support Petric's insanity plea, his lawyers spent Tuesday building up his video game addiction, with his sister testifying that he became addicting following being housebound due to a staph infection following a serious skiing accident. Another character witness, Daniel's 17-year-old friend Jonathan Johnson, explained that Petric was so obsessed with the Halo games that he would spend large amounts of time at Johnson's house playing them. One marathon session took place a week before the shooting, during a time when Petric's father had kicked him out of the house over an argument following the fight.

In effect it was a rather weak defense. Not only did it show no direct correlation between playing the game and shooting his parents, it served to stress the fact that the relationship between Petric and his father had been stressed before the shooting occurred. Furthermore, when Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Tony Cillo cross-examined Johnson, asking him if he believed Halo 3 was the reason Petric shot his parents, the teen answered, "No."

It was also revealed that Daniel Petric told adolescent forensic psychologist Steven Neuhas during a pre-trial mental health evaluation that he had thought about killing his parents during the weeks leading up to the crime. Between that and his attempt to make the crime scene look like a murder-suicide between his parents, I very much doubt the insanity plea is going to hold any water.

With Daniel having waived the right to a trial by jury, it is now up to County Common Pleas Judge James Burge to render a verdict, which will be announced on January 7th.

http://kotaku.com/5112289/halo-3-sho...game-addiction ...

Nintendo's still superior Club Nintendo of Japan has updated its member offerings for the year, providing the serious and professional Nintendo fan with Mii emblazoned business cards. It's the ideal way to exchange Friend Codes!

http://kotaku.com/5112915/mii-busine...-code-problems ...

You’re excited by the prospect of Metal Gear Solid on the iPhone, are you?. You may be less excited about the reality of Metal Gear Solid on the iPhone.

Take a close look at those screens. One shows Snake standing behind a wall of sandbags, shooting at bad guys. The other shows a zoomed-in view of Snake shooting at bad guys. They don't show him sneaking, they don't show him blending into a wall, they don't show him punching some unlucky sap in the cock.

You know why? Because it sounds like shooting is all you'll be doing. The same Famitsu article that broke the news yesterday also has a few details on the game that the press release neglected to mention.

They boil down to this: you don't control Snake's movement. All you do is swipe your fingers around to aim, then tap the screen to shoot.

It's Duck Hunt. Or, if you will, Snake's Crossbow Training.

Not that this is a bad thing! Kojima says in the article that the team originally considered a stealthy game, but decided (WISELY) that the iPhone isn't up to the task controls-wise, and went with something simpler.

Should make for a less frustrating experience, but still, that won't ease the crushing disappointment iPhone owners hoping for a "proper" MGS game will be feeling.

http://kotaku.com/5112841/metal-gear...disappointment ...

Mature games? On the Wii? From Take-Two? With over 15 million of the things in the United States, you better believe the publisher has dollar signs in its eyes. But what kind of "mature" content?

While Take-Two CEO Ben Feder says that some of the company's "best content really isn't appropriate for the Wii" with some 3 million Carnival Games titles floating about, that "appropriateness" is up for debate. The 2K Sports brand, for example, is totally appropriate and Take-Two is "looking at the Wii as a potential platform."

"Even the M-rated content that we think is much more appropriate for the PlayStation 3 or 360, we have to look at the Wii as a viable platform content across all our labels," Feder said during today's earnings call "because you can't ignore the install base. You just can't."

You know, Ben, Manhunt 2 probably falls under "less appropriate" for Nintendo's console, so what's changed? Oh, two million more Wiis last month, we bet.

http://kotaku.com/5112817/wii-is-a-v...-says-take+two ...

This week's Media Create sales chart has a Nintendo flavored frosting, with the first ten games on the list for either the Wii or Nintendo DS. And only two of them are new games.

Taking the top spot is Taiko no Tatsujin Wii the follow up to Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken for the Nintendo DS — which, almost coincidentally, returns to the charts at #30. Konmi's Penguin no Mondai represents the only other debut to chart in the top ten.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom didn't perform as well, landing at #16, falling behind the Gamecube-to-Wii remake Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. That's gotta sting.

01. Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Wii) - 106,000 / NEW
02. Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii) - 98,000 / 587,000
03. Hoshi no Kirby: Ultra Super Deluxe (DS) - 94,000 / 629,000
04. Wagamama Fashion Girls Mode (DS) - 94,000 / 342,000
05. Penguin no Mondai (DS) - 59,000 / NEW
06. Professor Layton and The Final Time Journey (DS) - 58,000 / 492,000
07. Pokémon Platinum (DS) - 58,000 / 2,066,000
08. Rhythm Tengoku Gold (DS) - 45,000 / 1,289,000
09. Wii Fit (Wii) - 43,000 / 2,917,000
10. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 34,000 / 1,938,000

11. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2009 (PS3)
12. Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World (PS2)
13. Tamagotchi Kira Kira Omisecchi (DS)
14. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (Wii)
15. Chrono Trigger DS (DS)
16. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom (Wii)
17. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Spec III (PS3)
18. Tongari Boushi to Mahou no 365 Nichi (DS)
19. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (The Best) (PSP)
20. Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)
21. Wii Sports (Wii)
22. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PSP)
23. Kenka Banchou 3: Zenkoku Seiha (PSP)
24. Wii Music (Wii)
25. Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam (PSP)
26. 428: Fuusa Sareta Shibuya de (Wii)
27. Wii Play (Wii)
28. Mario Kart DS (DS)
29. Inazuma Eleven (DS)
30. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS)

http://kotaku.com/5113007/wii-ds-sof...apanese-charts ...

This week's Media Create sales chart has a Nintendo flavored frosting, with the first ten games on the list for either the Wii or Nintendo DS. And only two of them are new games.

Taking the top spot is Taiko no Tatsujin Wii the follow up to Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken for the Nintendo DS — which, almost coincidentally, returns to the charts at #30. Konmi's Penguin no Mondai represents the only other debut to chart in the top ten.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom didn't perform as well, landing at #16, falling behind the Gamecube-to-Wii remake Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. That's gotta sting.

01. Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Wii) - 106,000 / NEW
02. Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii) - 98,000 / 587,000
03. Hoshi no Kirby: Ultra Super Deluxe (DS) - 94,000 / 629,000
04. Wagamama Fashion Girls Mode (DS) - 94,000 / 342,000
05. Penguin no Mondai (DS) - 59,000 / NEW
06. Professor Layton and The Final Time Journey (DS) - 58,000 / 492,000
07. Pokémon Platinum (DS) - 58,000 / 2,066,000
08. Rhythm Tengoku Gold (DS) - 45,000 / 1,289,000
09. Wii Fit (Wii) - 43,000 / 2,917,000
10. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 34,000 / 1,938,000

11. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2009 (PS3)
12. Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World (PS2)
13. Tamagotchi Kira Kira Omisecchi (DS)
14. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (Wii)
15. Chrono Trigger DS (DS)
16. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom (Wii)
17. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Spec III (PS3)
18. Tongari Boushi to Mahou no 365 Nichi (DS)
19. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (The Best) (PSP)
20. Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)
21. Wii Sports (Wii)
22. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PSP)
23. Kenka Banchou 3: Zenkoku Seiha (PSP)
24. Wii Music (Wii)
25. Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam (PSP)
26. 428: Fuusa Sareta Shibuya de (Wii)
27. Wii Play (Wii)
28. Mario Kart DS (DS)
29. Inazuma Eleven (DS)
30. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS)

http://kotaku.com/5113007/wii-ds-sof...apanese-charts ...