via Kotaku


It is a day of great celebration in the countries of Greece, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and the Czech Republic, as Sony Computer Entertainment Europe launches for new iterations of the PlayStation Store for these poor, underprivileged areas.


I would have thought they'd have gotten to this sooner, seeing as Europe is the most important continent, but you can't complain when four new countries get access to the most awesome rubber duckie game ever created. ...

News from Play Asia

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

As we are heading towards Christmas, one hot release week is following after another. Especially the Xbox360™ seems to be very strong this Winter with plenty of interesting new games released.

Starting with top Xbox360™, Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has been the biggest mover; the title is currently on backorder, a restock date has not been confirmed. Other hot games have been the Asia release versions of Timeshift, Clive Barker's Jericho, Viva Pinata: Party Animals, NBA 2K8 and an English language version of Eternal Sonata.

PlayStation3™ software supply hasn't been too bad either, with Midway's Stranglehold (Regular / Collector's Edition), Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle and The Simpsons Game.

Not to forget as well, Koei's Shin Sangoku Musou 5 has already hit shelves as Asia versions, available for both HD console platforms.

Top Wii™ sellers have been the US versions of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle and Battalion Wars 2. For PlayStation2™ we've got Rockstargames' Manhunt 2 (also available for PSP™).

Looking at popular handheld releases, Dementium: The Ward, Mario Party DS and Yosumin.have been leading sales for Nintendo DS™, while Silent Hill: Origins (as English Asia version), Akumajou Dracula X Chronicle (Japanese / Asia / Konamistyle Limited Edition) and Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness have been strong PSP™ movers.

Last but not least, with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Hellgate London and Timeshift, three interesting PC game releases have also become available.

As usually, here's a summary of all new releases from this week,

Xbox360™:
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation US US$ 59.90
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ASIA US$ 49.90
Clive Barker's Jericho ASIA US$ 49.90
Conan US US$ 59.90
Eternal Sonata (English language Version) ASIA US$ 44.90
F.E.A.R. Files US US$ 49.90
Gears of War (Platinum Collection) ASIA US$ 29.90
Just Cause: Viva Revolution JPN US$ 64.90
Major League Baseball 2K7 JPN US$ 64.90
NBA 2K8 ASIA US$ 49.90
NBA Live 08 JPN US$ 64.90
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja US US$ 59.90
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 JPN US$ 68.90
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 ASIA US$ 64.90
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 [Treasure Box] JPN US$ 129.90
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 [Treasure Box] ASIA US$ 119.90
The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles US US$ 34.90
The Simpsons Game US US$ 64.90
Timeshift ASIA US$ 49.90
Timeshift US US$ 59.90
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 JPN US$ 64.90
Virtua Fighter 5 US US$ 59.90
Viva Pinata: Party Animals US US$ 49.90
Viva Pinata: Party Animals ASIA US$ 44.90
Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack (Light Blue) ASIA US$ 14.90
Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack (Pink) ASIA US$ 14.90
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (Light Blue) ASIA US$ 44.90
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (Pink) ASIA US$ 44.90
PlayStation3™:
Cars: Mater-National US US$ 49.90
FragFX Controller US US$ 59.90
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle ASIA US$ 129.90
NBA Live 08 JPN US$ 64.90
Playstation 3 Eye Camera US US$ 39.90
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction JPN US$ 59.90
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 ASIA US$ 64.90
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 JPN US$ 68.90
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (w/ PlayStation3 Console 40GB Ceramic White) JPN N/A
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 [Treasure Box] ASIA N/A
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 [Treasure Box] JPN US$ 129.90
Stranglehold US US$ 64.90
Stranglehold [Collector's Edition] US US$ 72.90
The Eye of Judgment Booster Pack (Japanese) JPN US$ 4.90
The Simpsons Game ASIA US$ 49.90
The Simpsons Game US US$ 64.90

Nintendo Wii™:
Battalion Wars 2 US US$ 49.90
Ben 10: Protector of Earth US US$ 44.90
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle US US$ 129.90
Hooked! Real Motion Fishing (w/ Controller) US US$ 69.90
The Simpsons Game US US$ 49.90
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 JPN US$ 59.90

PlayStation2™:
Ben 10: Protector of Earth US US$ 34.90
Buzz The Mega Quiz Bundle (w/ Buzzers) US US$ 49.90
Buzz! Junior: Jungle Party US US$ 34.90
Buzz! Junior: Jungle Party Bundle (w/ Buzzers) US US$ 49.90
Buzz! The Mega Quiz US US$ 34.90
Cars: Mater-National US US$ 44.90
Guitar Hero & Guitar Hero II Dual Pack US US$ 59.90
Kuri no Okurimono JPN US$ 64.90
Kuri no Okurimono [First Print Special Edition] JPN US$ 64.90
Manhunt 2 US US$ 49.90
NBA Live 08 JPN US$ 64.90
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent (Ubisoft the Best) JPN US$ 34.90

Nintendo DS™:
Ben 10: Protector of Earth US US$ 34.90
Cars: Mater-National US US$ 34.90
Dementium: The Ward US US$ 34.90
El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera US US$ 34.90
Interactive Storybook DS Series 2 US US$ 24.90
Interactive Storybook DS Series 3 US US$ 24.90
Katei no Igaku: DS de Kitaeru Shokuzai Kenkou Training JPN US$ 39.90
Mario Party DS JPN US$ 48.90
Neves US US$ 34.90
O.M.G. 26 - Our Mini Games US US$ 24.90
Ratatouille Food Frenzy US US$ 34.90
Super Collapse! 3 US US$ 34.90
The Simpsons Game US US$ 34.90
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: ...

via Games Industry


Midway's CEO David Zucker has said that Stranglehold has provided the company with an indication of its return on investment in European sales and distribution.


Stranglehold has been a top-ten selling Xbox 360 title in the UK since its launch, according to Chart Trak data. Zucker said that it has also done very well in France, Germany, Italy and other territories.

He noted that Midway went direct into Germany and France about two years ago, and has always been direct in the UK. Those three territories combined represent almost 70 per cent of European sales, Zucker said.

"With our European distribution now in place, we feel really good about our ability to perform there looking ahead to 2008."

Although the company has been struggling, Zucker said that the infrastructure is in place for a turnaround.

During the past few years, the company has invested over USD 100 million in a standardised next-gen technology platform built around the Unreal Engine 3.

"We wanted to make sure that we avoided the mistake of reinventing technology for the same functionality," he said.

Midway's CEO again pointed to Stranglehold as an example of the company's 'distributed development methodology.' Although the game was developed by the flagship Chicago studio, the audio was done at the Austin, Texas studio, and many of the special effects were done by the Seattle, Washington studio.

The Stranglehold team is now helping the Newcastle studio working on the Wheelman title, something that is only possible because Midway's studios are using the same underlying technology and code base.

The primary advantage to shared technology is lower cost of development for the second batch of next-gen titles.

"But, more importantly," Zucker added, "our teams will be able to spend more time doing the things that matter to sales - which is improving the quality of the game, gameplay, level design - and less time on reinventing technology as we go forward." ...

via Games Industry


SouthPeak Games has announced a studio license agreement with Epic Games for use of the Unreal Engine 3 in the development of its upcoming videogame titles worldwide.

The agreement is in effect throughout the life of the UE3 technology application across all major platforms including downloadable content.


The next SouthPeak release under the new studio license is Monster Madness EX: Battle for Suburbia, currently under development by Psyonix Studios for the PS3. ...

New from Divineo UK:



The ultimate way to utilize a keyboard and mouse on your Xbox 360 console just got even better! XCM has lisented to customer feedback and have produced the Sniper Edition XFPS 360 console which allows for total keyboard and mouse control on the Xbox 360, which results in a vastly improved gameplay experience on top selling titles such as Halo 3 and BioShock. The Sniper also supports the use of Playstation controllers on the Xbox 360 and this simply could not have come at a better time with the release of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. XCM are sure that this latest build is the gateway to perfect keyboard and mouse play and promises greater sensitivity, greater smoothness and greater sniper like precision.

The XFPS 360 is an innovative keyboard and mouse adapter for the Xbox 360 which begins an unrivalled First Person Shooter (FPS) experience to the next-generation gaming console. Not only is the XFPS 360 compatible with all standard PS/2 input devices but also modern USB keyboards and mice. But wait, there's more! The XFPS 360 even makes traditional PS2 DualShock2 controllers compatible on the Xbox 360, as well as a plethora of peripherals. This exquiste device even manages to bring auto fire functionality to the Xbox 360, now that tops off what promises to be the must have peripheral for years to come! ...

Takka has released a new version of his Unnoficial work on Exophases excellent GBA Emulator for the PSP.

Google translation is rubbish as usual so any one who can understand japanese please help via comments. Only thing i can see as a major plus is the ability to play via TV Out.

Download Here and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

via Computer and Video Games


Sega is leaping on the brain-train wagon with Brain Assist, a DS game "filled with a variety of ways to test mental ability".

Apparently, it's derived from Touch de Uno!, which we're reliably informed is a classic Japanese arcade game.

Anyway, the idea is that through a series of fun challenges that test your memory, concentration, reflexes, deduction and analytical abilities, your, er, memory, concentration, reflexes, deduction and analytical abilities will be improved.

And we're additionally reliably informed there are nurses in the game that offer you assistance and guidance - "Oh yes, that's it. Put your stylus there. Just there. Faster! Faster!"...

The ultimate challenge is the Lightning Round, "where the pace and difficulty of gameplay becomes even more challenging" Sega explains.

It adds, "Brain Assist takes full advantage of the Nintendo DS Touch Screen technology and allows for an addictive interactive gameplay experience in either two-player co-op mode or fast-paced competitions for up to four players via the Nintendo DS Wireless Connection".

Brain Assist is out spring 2008.


Screenshots here ...

via Eurogamer


SouthPeak Games has released a 566MB demo of Oblivion wannabe Two Worlds, giving you a chance to explore "a huge portion" of the game's "expansive single-player map".

You'll get to tackle "numerous" quests and various monsties as you try and make your mind up about whether to buy it or not. You can also read our Two Worlds review for additional pointers.

Or, if you've already bought it, you might be interested in the PC and Xbox 360 patches being lined up to address "issues some players have experienced", including problems with "horse steering" among other things we've copied and pasted below.

For more on Two Worlds, check out our Two Worlds gamepage. The full changelog for the upcoming patches follows:

Both platforms (PC and Xbox 360)

• Horse steering has been improved
• Character development curve not as steep over level 25
• HP regeneration slower for max values above 2000
• Death strike skill executable by strike button while in sneak mode
• Critical hit skill fixed
• Damage is now allowed over 32000
• There is a cap on damage and armour at 99999
• Necromancer spells have been balanced
• Magical boosters effect restricted to 5 boosters
• Stacking potions with different statistics fixed
• Objects stacking objects can't be stacked up if result has higher level requirements than current player level
• Equipment Class cap on 50
• When killing in towns after you leave the town and go back guards will ask you to pay instead of immediately attacking you
• NPC's in towns don't resurrect
• Tweaked hilevel monster balance
• Wing Membrane ingredient added to Helllord
• Dragons strike not breakable by player hit
• Bomb traps attached to some chests and wardrobes
• Balanced number of lock picks in chests and wardrobes
• Walking under water and not dying has been fixed
• Inaccessible Cave north of Ashos has been fixed
• Multiplayer Lag issues have been improved
• Multiplayer too many skill points generated due to combat stats has been fixed
• Friendly fire disabled in RPG mode (players cannot damage each other)
• Resurrect spell on players has been disabled
• Experience points for killing players has been removed
• Disarming skill disabled against other players
• Freezing/stopping spells disabled against other players
• Multiplayer RPG quests given to all, reward splitter between players
• Team assault main monuments 50 times stronger
• Barbarian berserk skill in PvP reduced to 5
• Chest and wardrobe lock levels improved in multiplayer

PC-specific

• Issue of moving money between servers has been fixed
• Maps D2,E4,F4, Multiplayer Tharbakin missing triangles or flying objects have been fixed
• Enter opens console in single player
• Horse steering stopping horse by back key changed
• Cloning character when logging on new WarNet server is fixed
• Boosters disappearing in Arena modes
• Atmospheric fog for multiplayer towns added
• Chat over open dialogs possible (by F11 chat dialog)
• All PVP arenas unlocked from beginning

Xbox 360-specific

• Improved single player framerate
• Interface repeat changes selection left stick hold added
• Game HDD cache cleaning possibility RB + A + B during game launch
• Achievements for 5 elements is fixed
• Map interface improvements only one open quest at the time, quests selection box better visibility, hero location on map better visibility, quest name on tooltip
• Hit info fonts larger
• "BACK - Show Instruction" text disappears
• Double saving multiplayer characters to protect character lost from power-off or hard-locks
• Interface no controls after "server refused connection" is fixed
• Doubling gold in multiplayer is fixed
• Doubling objects in multiplayer is fixed

...

via Eurogamer


EA may be making a big song and dance about the full albums it will be selling as downloads for Rock Band, but Activision's Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is due out this month and already there are downloadable songs built around particular bands - with Foo Fighters and Velvet Revolver packs going up today.

The former gives you access to "The Pretender", "All My Life" and "This Is A Call" for 500 Microsoft points (GBP 4.25 / EUR 5.82 approx), while the latter offered "She Builds Quick Machines", "Slither" and "Messages" for the same amount.

Guitar Hero III is already out in the States, hence the release, and will be with us here on 23rd November for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and PS2. PC and DS versions are also planned, although we've heard suspiciously little about the latter. For more on the game's progress, check out our recent Guitar Hero III Xbox 360 first impressions, and watch out for a review in the near future. ...