via Computer and Video Games


We already knew that Nintendo was shying away from the traditional four/five-year console lifespan, but it comes as a surprise to learn that Nintendo sees the cycle being extended further, rather than shortening it.

Speaking to investors President Satoru Iwata pondered over the current assumptions about console lifespans. "I have to wonder if it is all right to think that this current generation of hardware will have a four-year lifespan just because the past generation's lifespan was four years," he said. "I believe a different time cycle must be considered."

Iwata went on to say that he suspected customers reluctantly buy a Nintendo console just so they can play the software. Because of this, Nintendo owes its customers a longer lifecycle for Wii.

"Accordingly, we would like to offer new proposals one after another as long as that hardware can still provide fresh and pleasant surprises," he added. "If such efforts can be resulted in the prolonged lifespan of a hardware, that is good to us."

So can we expect to be playing the same old Wii come 2019, then? Or is this further evidence that Nintendo is looking towards adopting a business model akin to the iPod, where newer models are released without making former units obsolete? We suspect the latter. ...

News/release from Nightfox


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via Eurogamer


Capcom has confirmed Clover has been removed from the Okami Wii credits, blaming legal constraints for the deletion.

The Wii conversion was handled by Ready At Dawn, and according to Capcom this left its hands tied.


Clover created Okami for PS2 and former game director Hideki Kamiya is upset at the decision; not simply because his name is absent from the credits, but because the ending movie closes the game and conveys all of the emotion the team poured into the project over many years.


However, even with legal permission, Ready At Dawn claimed it may not have been that easy to include the ending roll due to Wii data sizes - although it was quick to point out it would never "willingly" not give credit where it was due.


Clover Studios was closed down in March 2007 in "an effort to increase efficiency". The team was responsible for games such as Viewtiful Joe, God Hand and Okami. Hideki Koyami is now in charge of Platinum Games.

Okami was released on PS2 in February 2007 and achieved top marks on Eurogamer. The Wii version has motion-sensing controls, widescreen and 480p support.

Okami Wii is due out in Europe on 13th June. ...

via IGN


GTA fan hopes rose today with a report from qj.net suggesting that GTA 2 was coming to XBLA and/or PSN at the end of May. This was due to a countdown clock found on Rockstar's site. We're sorry to report that this is not the case.

The clock is old and was counting to the release of GTA 2 on PlayStation One. Checking the source code for the site, the page is credited as being designed in 1999. The code includes a date correction for the 1900s, with a note stating, "apply correction for this century only." Simply put: This code does not understand that the 21st century exists. If you've been searching for a Y2K error, you've found one.

Rockstar confirmed to IGN that the clock is in error and is not counting down to a re-release of GTA 2. ...

via Joystiq


We've been trying to get answers this week for those GTA IV players who've been experiencing freeze-ups with the title. Our very unscientific poll has shown that although many of you are enjoying the game without issue, a small percentage are experiencing problems -- and a "small percentage" of the millions who bought GTA IV actually ends up being a lot of people. Although Rockstar has so far not responded to the issue, Gamespot received a "fix" from Take-Two's tech support team.

The 12-part "fix" Gamespot received involves steps like: erasing the install data, deleting the game saves, disabling PS3 internet connectivity, disabling the console's information board, deleting the system's internet cache and much more. For its part, Sony says the issue is affecting "a limited number of PS3s" and its working with customers to resolve the problem. Microsoft has yet to acknowledge any freezing issues. ...

via IGN


How big is Metal Gear Solid 4? The correct answer is, "big enough to get two hardware bundles."

That's just what Sony and Konami are preparing for the game over in Japan. Konami already unveiled the first MGS4 bundle a few weeks back. Today, Sony unveiled the PlayStation 3 Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots Welcome Box with Dual Shock 3, a package that bundles the standard version of MGS4 with a standard 40 gigabyte PS3 unit and throws in a DUALSHOCK 3 controller to complement the included SIXAXIS.

Sony will be making the bundle available in Clear Black, Ceramic White, and Satin Silver, with the included Dual Shock 3 matching the system's color. Pricing is set at 49,980 yen, a savings of around 4,480 yen over the price of buying the Dual Shock 3, PS3 and a copy of MGS4 separately.

The Konami bundle, known as the game's Premium Pack, includes the game's Special Edition, a special "steel" color of the PS3 system, and a Dual Shock 3, all for 51,800 yen. It's missing the SIXAXIS, but it has the bonus goodies from the Special Edition of the title.

All bundles and variations will be available in Japan on June 12.


Photographs of the second bundles here ...

via Kotaku




Nice to see that Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi isn't pussy footing around. Dude is clearly able to drive. Fast. Here he takes to the wheel of the new Nissan GT-R and pushes it upwards of 190 mph. This is exactly the person you want making your realistic racing simulators. ...

via DS Fanboy

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via Eurogamer


The second Hanabi Festival is under way on the Virtual Console, so you can play all sorts of foreign games never released over here.

These include puzzle game Columns III: Revenge of Columns (Megadrive) and horizontal scrolling-shooter Gradius II (TurboGrafx-CD), plus scrolling-shooter Final Soldier (TurboGrafx-CD).

Unfortunately, because these are rare, Nintendo has seen fit to bump the prices for no apparent reason; air fares and stuff, probably.

Columns III costs 900 Wii Points (GBP 6.30 / EUR 9 approx), while Gradius II and Final Soldier cost 700 Wii Points (GBP 4. 90 / EUR 7 approx).

Look out for our Virtual Console roundup later today. ...