News from Play Asia:

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

As mentioned in last week's preview, many interesting games have been released this week. We bring you the exciting first person shooter The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return [US, Japanese and with Zapper] versions for Nintendo Wii™. With the Wii Zapper in hand, feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins as you defeat the zombies that are charging toward you.

This is an exciting week for fans of sci-fi, robots and mecha. Armored Core: For Answer [Xbox360™ and PlayStation3™] versions are released. Find out the reason for going to war as you challenge and defeat some of the largest and most carefully designed mecha in gaming history.

Dramatic Dungeon: Sakura Taisen [standard and limited edition] is another game that combines an engaging plot, charming characters and mecha, but instead of taking place in the futuristic world, it sets stage in Taisho Japan. Experience some exhilirating mecha fights and witness the elegance of Japanese theatrical arts in this renowned game.

Stepping away from the horror and mecha combats, we bring you Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage to your Nintendo DS™. Capture pokemon by your stylus, adventure with these beloved creatures and save the world from the clutches of darkness in this fun game. We also have the comical sports game Chou Nekketsu Koukou Kunio-Kun Dodge Ball Bu where you defeat the evil through a game of dodge ball.

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™:
Armored Core: For Answer JPN US$ 64.90
Army of Two JPN US$ 64.90
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII JPN US$ 64.90
Cabela's Big Game Hunter ASIA US$ 44.90
Condemned 2: Bloodshot US US$ 64.90
Need for Speed: Pro Street JPN US$ 64.90
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 US US$ 59.90
Ratatouille (Platinum Hits) US US$ 24.90
Sengoku Musou 2 with Moushouden JPN US$ 72.90
Sengoku Musou 2 with Moushouden ASIA US$ 64.90
Spider-Man 3 JPN US$ 59.90
The Club ASIA US$ 49.90

PlayStation3™:
Armored Core: For Answer ASIA US$ 59.90
Armored Core: For Answer JPN US$ 64.90
Army of Two JPN US$ 64.90
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII JPN US$ 64.90
FolksSoul: Ushinawareta Denshou / Folklore (PlayStation3 the Best) JPN US$ 38.90
FolksSoul: Ushinawareta Denshou / Folklore (PlayStation3 the Best) ASIA US$ 34.90
Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight (PlayStation3 the Best) JPN US$ 38.90
PS2 Controller to PS3/PC System Convert Cable V2 US$ 8.90
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 US US$ 59.90
Resistance: Fall of Man (PlayStation3 the Best) ASIA US$ 34.90
Resistance: Fall of Man (PlayStation3 the Best) JPN US$ 38.90
Ridge Racer 7 (PlayStation3 the Best) JPN US$ 38.90
Ridge Racer 7 (PlayStation3 the Best) ASIA US$ 34.90
The Club ASIA US$ 49.90
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 ASIA US$ 59.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Bomberman Land Wii (Hudson the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Deca Sporta JPN US$ 59.90
The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return US US$ 34.90
The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return JPN US$ 49.90
The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (w/ Wii Zapper) JPN US$ 69.90

PlayStation2™:
Buzz Jr. Robo Jam US US$ 34.90
Buzz Jr. Robo Jam (w/ Buzzers) US US$ 49.90
Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz US US$ 34.90
Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz (w/ Buzzers) US US$ 49.90
Kamiwaza (Acquire the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 US US$ 34.90
Ratatouille (Greatest Hits) US US$ 24.90
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters US US$ 34.90
The Godfather (EA:SY! 1980) JPN US$ 24.90

Nintendo DS™:
Bakousou Dekotora Densetsu Black JPN US$ 48.90
Bangai-O Spirits JPN US$ 48.90
Chou Nekketsu Koukou Kunio-Kun Dodge Ball Bu JPN US$ 39.90
Crayon Shin-Chan: Arashi o Yobu Cinema Land JPN US$ 48.90
Disney Friends US US$ 34.90
Dramatic Dungeon: Sakura Taisen JPN US$ 48.90
Dramatic Dungeon: Sakura Taisen [Allstar Pack] JPN US$ 79.90
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Ring of Fates US US$ 44.90
Kachou Shima Kousaku DS: Dekiru Otoko no Love & Success JPN US$ 39.90
Kekkaishi: Koru Nogirou Shuurai JPN US$ 48.90
Nanostray 2 US US$ 34.90
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword JPN US$ 48.90
Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage JPN US$ 48.90
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 US US$ 34.90
Puchi Eva: Evangelion @ Game JPN US$ 48.90
Rosario to Vampire JPN US$ 48.90
SimCity DS 2: Kodaikara Mirai e Tsudzukumachi JPN US$ 48.90
Spider-Man 3 JPN US$ 48.90
Time Hollow: Uwareta Kako o Motome JPN US$ 48.90
Ys DS JPN US$ 48.90
Ys II DS JPN US$ 48.90
Zoo Tycoon 2 JPN US$ 48.90

Sony PSP™:
Biohazard III JPN US$ 37.90
Biohazard Trilogy Box JPN US$ 56.90
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (English language Version) ASIA US$ 44.90
FlatOut: Head On US US$ 34.90
Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: SBK-07 Superbike World Championship US US$ 24.90
Need for Speed: Pro Street JPN US$ 48.90
PSP Microphone JPN US$ 29.90
PSP Microphone (Twin Pack) JPN US$ 49.90
PSP PlayStation Portable Battery Pack (2200mAh) (Ceramic White) JPN US$ 54.90
PSP PlayStation Portable Battery Pack (2200mAh) (Ice Silver) ...

New from SuccessHK



Chatting with friends and family on Xbox LIVE?and Windows-based PCs is easy using the Xbox 360 Messenger Kit. This device easily connects to any Xbox 360 controller and provides easy to use chat capabilities while maintaining gameplay functionality in one easy-to-hold device. The Messenger Kit includes a Chatpad and Xbox 360 Headset. ...

Good news for all of you who missed the red Zune 80 during its short-lived (and somewhat delayed) Valentine's Day cameo -- Microsoft has decided to take your money after all. Yep, the red 80 is back, and it looks like it's a permanent engagement this time. The only catch is that you've got to do it up Zune Original style, which'll set you back another $10 - $15 on top of the usual $249, but that's the price you pay to have your player match your kicks, Dr. Hipster McHip.

Update: Apparently the Zune Originals site will sell you a custom Zune without any customizations (who knew?), so it looks like you can get crimson on the cheap if that's what you're after. Dollar dollar bill, y'all. [Thanks Micheal and Mark.]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/19/r...ginals-engrav/ ...

A recently unearthed patent filing shows Apple is thinking beyond its current living room video vending machine, the Apple TV. Among a number of new features, the design specifies how DVR information could be sent to a portable remote control similar to Apple's existing iPod and iPhone, taking integration among its products to a new level.

And it's not just working together for the sake of some superficial "better together" marketing angle. How many times have you heard friends discussing some great new show that you missed? With the capabilities Apple illustrates, one could perhaps call up the TV listings right from their iPhone and schedule to record the next episode. What's unknown is how Apple would transfer recorded DVR shows to an iPod or iPhone -- would recordings by synced through iTunes? And, if so, would they be tied to an authorized account to discourage internet redistribution?

In fact, while the addition of DVR features might raise questions about Apple retreating from selling TV shows, it would really reflect the reality of these show purchases being opportunistic (as well as perhaps serving as a tactic to bring NBC back to the bargaining table). Besides, DVR integration with the iTunes store could lead to more revenue opportunities. In the aforementioned scenario, the DVR could offer the opportunity to buy the episodes missed so far.




While patents don't necessarily portend market entry, would TiVo be able to withstand a market entry from Apple better than the Rio or Treo did? The DVR pioneer has stepped up its service offerings significantly over the past few years; few broadband-delivered TV entertainment services have escaped its partnership purview. These have included internet information and casual games, TV shows and movies on demand, subscription music services, video podcasts and more. No US TV platform offers a more versatile array of services, but the jack-of-all-trades approach still hasn't brought sustained profitability or enough pull from TiVo's simpler and cheaper cable competition.

Apple would be well-positioned to supersede even TiVo's functionality if it offered an SDK for Apple TV (or a DVR-enabled successor) as it has for the iPhone. In addition, Apple could gain a significant marketing advantage versus TiVo – and indeed the cable companies -- if it stuck to its subscription-averse philosophy, or perhaps rolled the subscription fee into .Mac. The latter could provide online TV listings for remote scheduling similar to the way MSN offers the feature for Windows Media Center.

Apple could clearly bring a lot to the DVR. The question is, what could the DVR bring to Apple that would motivate it to play in this extremely competitive market? (This is not a new question to Switched On readers.) However, an opportunity to bolster its offerings in portable electronics markets that it leads (iPod) or where its share is growing (iPhone) might persuade Apple to see the living room as a more strategic support environment for its iCosystem and less of a cash cow.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/19/s...ing-in-iphone/ ...

New from Divineo China



A realistic gun accessory specially designed for your Wii remote controller and Nunchuck, with a strong coil vibration function. More realistic, more fun! And easy to set up and remove.


- Easy to set up and use
- Built-in mega-vibration function
- 2 in 1 unique design: set Wii remote controller and Wii Nunchuck pad as same controller
- Only one hand can control both Wii controller (Remote and Nunchuck) to increase your chances at any gun game
- Exciting, amazing and real gun feeling
- Special to play with all Wii gun games
- Compatible with any version of Wii remote controller and nunchuck ...

Here's graphDS v0.4. I added a feature that lets you adjust the graphing window and the starts, stops, and increments for parametric and polar graphing. I also fixed the function input so that you can enter functions that are as long as you please. On the graphscreen's keyboard, I added a delete key, e, pi, and y (note: the y variable can only be used for slopefields and Euler's method, which currently cannot be accessed in the program).

Download:graphDS v0.4

If you like my program and want to make a small donation, you can do so at my site: http://robertson.heliohost.org ...

Here's graphDS v0.4. I added a feature that lets you adjust the graphing window and the starts, stops, and increments for parametric and polar graphing. I also fixed the function input so that you can enter functions that are as long as you please. On the graphscreen's keyboard, I added a delete key, e, pi, and y (note: the y variable can only be used for slopefields and Euler's method, which currently cannot be accessed in the program).

Download:graphDS v0.4

If you like my program and want to make a small donation, you can do so at my site: http://robertson.heliohost.org ...

Hi all,

Here is a new release of AFKIM (Away From the Keyboard Instant Messenger),
the instant messaging application for PSP written by Danzel !
(see http://localhost.geek.nz/)

This version fix a critical issue (thanks to LegolasFett for reporting).
Previous versions of Afkim don't work anymore due to several changes in the
authentication messages sent by the bitlbee server.

Have a look to the file README-irkbd.txt for mapping informations etc ...

You can find it here :
http://zx81.zx81.free.fr/

Enjoy,

Zx.

Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

via Eurogamer


Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends will be released on PS2 and Xbox 360 on 28th March, KOEI told Eurogamer this afternoon.

Originally announced for release tomorrow, SW2 XL introduces six new legendary characters, six new difficulty settings and new scenarios. Perhaps six - who can say.

You'll also be able to climb to higher levels than you could in the original Samurai Warriors 2, play co-op in Story and Free mode, and hire samurai to fight alongside you.

PS2 owners will be able to buy the retail version as usual, but Xbox 360 owners will be able to grab it via Live Marketplace for 2400 Microsoft Points (GBP 20.40 / EUR 28.80). ...