via IGN


Our ears perked up last week when we saw Capcom had filed the title Mega Man 9 with Australia's Classification Review Board (down under's version of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board). It's been over ten years since we were blessed with a proper new Mega Man game. Now it looks like the next entry in the series is set for Nintendo's WiiWare service.

Fansite The Mega Man Network has gotten its hands on a couple (blurry) scans from the next issue of Nintendo Power. The screenshots look like the classic 8-bit Mega Man we all know and love. Capcom is apparently going old school with this one. Mega Man Network lists the following robot bad guys:

• Magma Man
• Galaxy Man
• Jewel Man
• Concrete Man
• Hornet Man
• Plug Man
• Tornado Man
• Splash WOMAN (although this isn't confirmed, yet)

Mega Man 9 is being developed by Inti Creates, a team made up of former Capcom devs that brought us the first three Mega Man X games, Mega Man Zero, and the Mega Man ZX series. ...

via Computer and Video Games


The home console, which has sold in excess of 25 million units worldwide since its November 2006 Japanese release, will make its debut in Taiwan on July 12.

According to platform holder's official site, the system will release as a Wii Sports bundle for 8,500 New Taiwan Dollars ($280). Wii Play is the only software listed, at a cost of NTD 1,500 ($49). ...

via Gizmodo


Last week we reported that UK punters were facing the prospect of shelling out £370 and £470 for the forthcoming 8GB and 16GB iPhone 3G but today the news is so much better.

O2 has revealed that the new 8Gb and 16GB iPhones will cost £300 and £360, a reduction on earlier reports of £70 and £110, respectively. And, even though you're not prepared to pay for the hefty monthly contracts, both phones will come with 6 months of unlimited browsing and Wi-Fi access.

PAYG users will then be able to retain those services for £10 per month after the 6 months is up.

Makes you glad not be an Italian, considering they're going to be charged £395 and £450.

Big thanks to crack Gizmodo readers [Vince, Nicky, Dayks & Rich] for the heads-up.-Martin Lynch

UPDATE: O2 has pulled the pricing details from its PAYG iPhone 3G page. A mistake? Is some O2 Web manager getting a sound thrashing right now for jumping the gun? I know one thing, O2 will get some stick from all of us in the media if it republishes higher prices than it did earlier. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Microsoft Europe's David Gosen says that Xbox 360 is still leading PS3 in the European sales race, despite Sony's claims to the contrary.

"Anyone trying to call a winner this Christmas is calling too early," the VP of strategic marketing told MCV. "We are incredibly well positioned - our installed base in Europe is well over five million and contrary to what's been reported we are at least, if not more than, three quarters of a million ahead of PS3."

Back in March Microsoft slashed the price of all Xbox 360 models across Europe in a bid to expand market share, a move that saw the Arcade unit drop to £159.99, cheaper than Nintendo's Wii. Gosen said that there had been a "significant" change in the momentum of the firm's business in the past few months.

However, at Sony's London PlayStation Day event in early May, SCEE president David Reeves said, "I'm delighted to be able to announce that we have sold more PS3s throughout Europe than Xbox 360, even though they launched 16 months before PS3."

"We have been consistently outselling our closest competitor since October 2007," he added, noting that SCEE had sold over five million PS3s in Europe. ...

via IGN


Today Electronic Arts announced a sequel to last year's music game, Boogie. Titled Boogie SuperStar, it seems to ignore the first entry and its weirdo characters. Instead, this time out players will be dancing and singing with customizable cartoon girls. EA says there will be millions of possible characters to create. The game will include over 40 songs from artists like Rihanna, Fergie, Maroon 5, Alicia Keys, Good Charlotte, Britney Spears, and Kanye West.

Versions of the game aimed outside the U.S. will include local artists from France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. EA is apparently still holding onto its ace in the hole – a "global music sensation" who will act as Boogie Superstar's featured artist and help promote the game.

"Boogie SuperStar promotes self-expression, creativity and empowerment for girls worldwide," said Robert Nashak, VP of Casual Studios, EA Casual Entertainment. "We have created a game where girls don't just observe someone else's rise to fame, they experience it themselves, singing and dancing their way through a world most girls only dream about."

The premise is that players are "discovered" and taken to a mysterious island to learn how to become a star. Two- and four-player modes will be available for co-op and versus play.

Boogie SuperStar will set you back $59.99 and includes a microphone.


Screenshots ...

via Computer and Video Games


If you like your strategy battle games you should be looking forward to grabbing the latest in the Final Fantasy Tactics series for DS, and we've got 15 new screenshots for you to ponder over.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift gives you control of a clan of fighters, from warriors to mages in an Advance Wars-style battle system.

It's out here tomorrow and, as this review will tell you, it's pretty good.


Screenshots ...

via Eurogamer


Good news, karaoke fans - Sony has whacked a bundle of new songs in the SingStore.

Highlights include A Kind of Magic by Queen and Morrissey's Everday is Like Sunday. There's also plenty of new-fangled contemporary jangling for those too young to remember Smash Hits. Also some foreign ones.

Here's that new SingStore top 40 in full:

English:

• A Flock Of Seagulls, I Ran (So Far Away)
• Bros, When Will I Be Famous?
• Coldplay, Clocks
• Corinne Bailey Rae, Put Your Records On
• Editors, The Racing Rats
• Franz Ferdinand, Do You Want To
• Franz Ferdinand, Take Me Out
• Judas Priest, You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
• Lily Allen, Littlest Things
• Mark Ronson feat. Daniel Merriweather, Stop Me
• Morrissey, Everyday Is Like Sunday
• Queen, A Kind Of Magic
• The Ting Tings, That’s Not My Name
• The Wombats, Moving To New York
• The Zutons, Valerie
• Warrant, Cherry Pie
• Marit Bergman, No Party

Swedish:

• Marit Bergman, No Party

Finnish:

• Suurlähettiläät, Elokuun 11.

French:

• Christophe Willem Double Je

German:

• 2raumwohnung, Melancholisch Schön
• 2raumwohnung, Nimm Mich Mit - Das Abenteuer Liebe Usw
• 2raumwohnung, Spiel Mit
• Blumentopf, Horst
• Klaus Lage , 1000 Und 1 Nacht

Italian:

• Finley, Sole Di Settembre

Dutch:

• Frans Bauer, Heb je even voor mij

All right, top 27. ...

via Eurogamer


Denis Dyack has taken to the Internet to "draw the digital line" under criticism of his forthcoming Xbox 360 game, Too Human.

In a NeoGaf post, he calls on those who are looking forward to Too Human's release - and those who think it will be rubbish - to "stand up and be counted".

"I feel Too Human is a great game, likely to be better than most that will come out this year," Dyack wrote. "I certainly feel it is the best game we have ever made. I also believe the press and gamers alike will believe this."

And if he's wrong, Dyack is willing to accept punishment in the form of an Internet branding iron.

"When the game is released and everyone plays game all the speculation will be over. If I am wrong and gamers in general think the game is "crap" then I am comfortable with getting tagged 'Owned by the GAF'," he stated.

"However, if I am right and it is received well, I would like to see those 'Against' to be tagged with 'Owned by Too Human'."

The post is signed, "Denis Dyack - 'For'".

So will Denis end up taking a knife and fork to his hat while egg drips from his crying face? Why not rush to judge for yourself by taking a look at all the info over on the gamepage.

Too Human is out on 29th August. ...

via Computer and Video Games


If you're a massive trivia fan and loved the original Fable on Xbox, then all our news stories out together won't please you nearly as much as this one. CVG has received a few facts and figures about the sonic side to Peter Molyneux's Fable II.

The audio, or rather vocal landscape, of the game has been recorded at the London-based firm Side. It's latest newsletter reveals that Side cast over 45 actors (aged from 8 to 80) to play almost 200 speaking characters.

"Four of Side's voice directors ensured that all performances harmonised perfectly with Fable II's idiosyncratic world and captured the complexities of its inhabitants. The voice recording ran concurrently in two studios for over three months, amounting to nearly 370,000 words recorded - that's 38 hours of dialogue."

There's even a quote from Peter Molyneux himself: "The sheer amount of dialogue in Fable 2 meant this was a massive project. Side rose to this challenge in a professional and efficient way. They have done a great job for us".

In case you missed it the latest Lionhead developer diary went live earlier this week and it's well worth a look. ...