via Engadget


So, you've gone and updated to that new "big fix" firmware 2.1 -- but is the Kool Aid as delicious as you've been promised? On our end, we're certainly seeing noticeable improvements on lagging keyboards, app switching / opening (particularly with contacts and text messages), moving through menus / scrolling, application installation and iTunes syncing, but has Apple solved the big issue? The software update page boasts of a "decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls," and while that might make you think you'll see the proverbial "more bars in more places" (and you probably do), it's likely related to another change in this update, namely, "improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display."

We know that a lot of you are seeing apparent improvements in signal strength, but is that a matter of updated icons, or a reflection of some crazy voodoo Apple performed on the phone's radio? We're leaning towards the former, but we'd like to hear what you have to say. So what's the deal? Is the iPhone 3G seeing actual reception improvements, or is it just cosmetic? Let us know in the poll here. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Capcom's retro platformer sequel will be available for download on Wii Ware in Japan on September 24 - in a little under two weeks time.

That's according to Japanese mag Dengeki Online, which says that the awesome-looking NES-style follow-up will cost 1000 Wii Points to buy (about seven quid.)

There's no word on when the game will appear on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN at this point, but we can only assume that they'll appear there around the same time - especially as the 24th is a Wednesday, Xbox Live users.

In case you're oblivious to what the fudge we're on about, Mega Man 9 is a retro-styled follow-up developed to mimic the visual style of the first Mega Man games released in the 80s. The music and cut scenes are also similarly styled. ...

via Eurogamer


UK retail chain Woolworths looks poised to cut the price of Xbox 360, following a similar move by Microsoft in the US.

The Arcade Xbox 360 will drop to GBP 129.99, the Premium unit to GBP 169.99, and the Elite console to 229.99, according to scans from the upcoming Woolworts catalogue, photographed by Engadget.

The three Xbox 360 consoles currently sell for GBP 159.99, GBP 199.99 and GBP 259.99 respectively. In comparison, a Wii console retails for GBP 179.99 with a copy of Wii Sports.

However, it is not yet clear whether this is a Woolworths-lead or Microsoft-bossed initiative.

The recent Xbox 360 price-cut to USD 199 in the US caused sales spikes of between 100 and 600 per cent.

Both Microsoft and Woolworths have been contacted for comment. ...

via Eurogamer


Nintendo will be releasing Wii hospital drama Trauma Center: New Blood on 7th November in Europe.

New Blood, the sequel to Second Opinion, returns with Wiimote-sensing scalpel challenges, as patients arrive sporting all sorts of gruesome injuries only your expertise can fix.

You may remember our import review of the game from January, where we said it was enjoyable, compelling, and exciting. 8/10. It's not quite as bonkers as Second Opinion though.

But the real question is, is it as good as Casualty, the world's second longest-running medical drama? [This is not the real question. - Ed] Does it have, for instance, an enticing 'guess what the injury will be?' mechanic as little Johnny and his parents visit the fairground full of rusty rides and dishevelled travellers and bears and depleted uranium?

We do not think so. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida is disappointed at the lack of third-party support for the PSP.

He pointed to first-party games such as God of War: Chains of Olympus, Buzz! Brain Bender and Resistance Retribution as examples of strong, existing IP that had been manipulated for PSP - something he's disappointed third-parties are not emulating.


Yoshida promised Sony has "many more" unannounced PSP games planned for next year, and said leading by example was the best way to get third-parties involved.

Capcom's Japanese Monster Hunter phenomena was used as an example, whereby developers and publishers could visibly see groups of friends playing the game in public places.

Perhaps the PSP-3000, with its brighter, more colourful screen, will prompt more activity when it launches here in mid-October.

The first PSP-3000 bundle will arrive in the UK on 17th October and cost GBP 149.99. Contents, bizarrely, are yet to be confirmed. ...

Well, it's another round of data for Japan's weekly console sales again. Today, they maintain same postions like last time but all see a drop like two weeks ago:


Nintendo DS Lite: 51,412
Playstation Portable: 34,462
Nintendo Wii: 33,128
Playstation 3: 8,317
Playstation 2: 7,948
Xbox 360: 1,044

DS lite is down roughly 5,000. PSP drops 7,200. Wii goes down 2,000. PS3 reduces in sales by 1,600, PS2 is down 900 and Xbox 360 is down 1,080. ...

via Games Industry


The latest results from NPD have revealed that sales of videogames hardware in the US grew by just 3 per cent in August year-on-year, from USD 384.6 million to USD 394.5 million.

That list was headed, once again, by the Nintendo DS, which sold 518,300 units, followed by Nintendo's other console, the Wii, on 453,000 units.

The PlayStation Portable was third on 253,000 units, while the Xbox 360 just beat the PlayStation 3 into fourth - the pair sold 195,200 and 185,400 respectively.

The PlayStation 2 was last with 144,100, although retailers in the US have apparently reported rocketing Xbox 360 sales since the new price points came into force last week.

Meanwhile, sales of videogame accessories were up 13 per cent, from USD 121.1 million to USD 137.3 million.


The hardware sales list is as follows:

1. Nintendo DS: 518,300
2. Nintendo Wii: 453,000
3. PlayStation Portable: 253,000
4. Xbox 360: 195,200
5. PlayStation 3: 185,400
6. PlayStation 2: 144,100 ...

Heres whats new:

10,000 BC (~Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis) JPN US$ 47.90
Baby Mama [dts] (~Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, ...) US US$ 39.98
Christmas Fireplace US US$ 16.97
Christmas Memories US US$ 16.97
Cool Hand Luke (~Paul Newman, George Kennedy, ...) US US$ 28.99
Daredevil [Director's Cut] (~Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, ...) HK US$ 31.90
Day Watch (~Konstantin Khabensky, Maria Poroshina, ...) US US$ 39.98
Don Giovanni (~Ren Jacobs, Johannes Weisser, ...) US US$ 49.97
Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag US US$ 24.98
Forbidden Kingdom (~Jackie Chan, Jet Li, ...) US US$ 39.99
Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Fourth Season US US$ 96.99
Hacken Lee Live In Concert 2006 (~Hacken Lee) HK US$ 39.90
How the West was Won (~James Stewart, Henry Fonda, ...) US US$ 34.99
Jerry Maguire (~Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding, ...) US US$ 28.95
Kill Bill Vol. 1 (~Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, ...) US US$ 34.99
Kill Bill Vol. 2 (~Lucy Liu, David Carradine, ...) US US$ 34.99
Manilow Live! (~Barry Manilow) US US$ 24.98
My Blueberry Nights (~Norah Jones, Jude Law, ...) JPN US$ 47.90
Mystery of the Nile US US$ 24.98
Night Watch (~Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, ...) US US$ 39.98
Pale Rider JPN US$ 47.90
Red Cliff (~Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, ...) HK US$ 37.90
Rudy (~Sean Astin, Ned Beatty, ...) US US$ 28.95
Smallville - The Complete Seventh Season (~Michael Rosenbaum, Kristen Kreunk, ...) US US$ 79.98
Stephen Chow A Chinese Odyssey Series (~Stephen Chow, Athena Chu, ...) HK US$ 44.90
The Alps US US$ 24.98
The Fall (~Catinca Untaru, Justine Waddell, ...) US US$ 38.96
The Lost Boys JPN US$ 47.90
The Perfect Storm (~George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, ...) JPN US$ 47.90
Winter Wonderland US US$ 16.97

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...9-en-84-n.html ...

Welcome to this week's Movie/Music news roundup, containing new Japanese and Hong Kong Video and Music releases from this week listed at Play-Asia.com. Around 380 new items are covered in this week, including new J-Pop, Anime as well as Japanese, Hong Kong and Western movie releases and much more.

As a part of the promotional campaign for the newest game in the Rockman series, Capcom has published the Rockman 9 soundtrack to give gamers a taste of their upcoming release.

Rockman 9 would be returning to the game's roots, instead of having fancy graphics and music to distract the players from the fun, the game is developed retro styled. So be prepared for the sense of nostalgia that will surely flood over your senses.

2008 is a special year for two highly popular Jpop stars, Hamasaki Ayumi and Otsuka Ai. The two singers are celebrating the 10th and 5th anniversaries of their debut with musical releases respectively.

The more experienced Hamasaki Ayumi released her best of best album, A Complete - All Singles [type A, type B] which contains the cover songs of all 43 singles she has released in the last 10 years. The younger Otsuka Ai, on the other hand, produced Kurage, Nagareboshi [type A, type B, type C, type D], a tribute to all people in love .

Love ballads are Otsuka Ai's forte and a rare production for Uverworld, a rock band that excels in fast paced, exciting numbers. Koishikute [limited & standard editions], the newest single shows another side to the popular band.

Besides the music releases, a summer block buster is coming out in DVDs and Blu-Ray disc editions. Red Cliffs is John Woo's modern retelling of the most exciting episode in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The engaging film features some of the most popular stars such as Tony Leung and Kaneshiro Takeshi and is sure to leave the viewers overwhelmed.

Here's a summary of all new releases that were published between Saturday, September 6th and Friday, September 12th. If some specific item that you are looking for is missing, please don't hesitate to contact our customer service with your request.


J-Pop Music releases (115)
ENKA Music releases (23)
Anime Soundtracks & Drama CDs (19)
Video Game Soundtracks (6)
Hong Kong Version Music releases (11)
Blu-ray Disc Movies (30)
Anime & Animation (11)
Hong Kong Version Movie releases (18)
Japanese Movies (15)
Non-Japanese Movies / Japanese Version (118)
J-Pop DVD releases (6)
Misc Japanese Movie releases (3)
Idol DVD (7)
UMD™ Video & Music (1)

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...9-en-84-n.html ...