via IGN


Sony has released the Daxter Entertainment Pack, a limited-edition slimmed-down silver PlayStation Portable that comes with a copy of Daxter, the Family Guy: The Freakin' Sweet Collection on UMD, and a 1GB memory stick.

The bundle was first announced at E3 2007, along with the news that future PSPs in North America would be thinner, come in new colors including "Ice Silver" and "Ceramic White," and feature faster data caching and a video out. The Daxter pack is $199.99.

On Oct. 9, Sony plans to release a limited-edition Star Wars Battlefront Entertainment Pack which includes a white PSP with a silk-screened image of Darth Vader on the back and the PSP-exclusive title Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Wii and DS have been such a huge success that Nintendo must now avoid that breeding complacency within its corridors, the company's president Satoru Iwata has stated.


Looking inward further, Iwata said that he personally has to work hard to ensure the world's perception of Nintendo remains positive.


He spoke too about the balance of still appealing to Nintendo's traditional hardcore fanbase while sinking hooks into a broader audience.

...

via Eurogamer


EA has joined forces with 10Tacle to publish Boulder Dash-Rocks! in Europe.

It means we'll see the DS offering here this Christmas, followed by the PSP version next spring.

We told you about Boulder Dash-Rocks! a little earlier in the year; about how it was a remake of the 1980s retro classic - that one starring Rockford where you had to collect gems while avoiding falling rocks and avalanches.

We probably even said that our granddad thinks its a coal mine simulator and said that wasn't very fun at all cough cough.

These new versions will have up-to date graphics, varied levels, and multiple game modes to keep you interested - each platform gets an exclusive one, apparently. You can even challenge your friends to a game in multiplayer, if you fancy it.

...

via Eurogamer


Rare has confirmed that it will not produce any further downloadable content for Xbox 360 title Viva Piñata, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

The Microsoft-owned developer made the comment on its own website in response to a question from a fan. Rare also said the Viva Piñata team is working on an alternative project.

"We aren't doing any downloadable content for Viva Piñata because we are much too busy doing something else," wrote a member of the Viva Piñata team in the Scribes column.

The revelation echoes comments made by Rare late last year. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, lead designer Gregg Mayles expressed scepticism about the value of producing downloadable content for Viva Piñata unless there was significant demand.

"The jury is still out," Mayles said at the time.


Viva Piñata has not been the mass market success Rare and Microsoft were hoping for. It sold poorly on its release in late 2006, failing to break into the UK all-formats top 40.

However, although the original release will not be supported with DLC, both developer and publisher are committed to developing the Viva Piñata brand further.

PC and Nintendo DS versions have been announced, along with a spin-off party game, Viva Piñata Party Animals, which is in development at Krome Studios.

At present it is unclear whether the "something else" being developed by the Viva Piñata team is an extension of the franchise or an all-new project. ...

via Eurogamer


Atari has told Eurogamer that the latest instalment in the Alone in the Dark series will not be released on all platforms simultaneously.

The Xbox 360 and PC versions are still on schedule to arrive before the end of the publisher's fiscal year in March 2008. However, the PS3 game will follow later on a date yet to be announced.

Atari gave no reason for the delay, but assured us that AitD is still very much in development for Sony's machine.

Alone in the Dark was originally announced for 360 and PC back in 2005, with the PS3 version confirmed a year later. ...

via Games Industry


EA is declining to comment on rumours that Mercenaries 2: World in Flames has slipped into 2008.

Yesterday, reports claimed that Pandemic's open-world action game would miss its expected autumn/winter launch. EA has told Eurogamer.net that this is unconfirmed, but won't reveal whether the title will be out in time for Christmas.

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is in development for PS3, 360, PS2 and PC.

The original Mercenaries was released in 2005 for PS2 and Xbox. It was published by LucasArts. It is regarded as one of the most successful attempts to build on the open-world genre popularised by Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series.

If Mercenaries 2 does end up delayed, it will be in good company. Grand Theft Auto IV's release has also been postponed from late 2007 to 2008. ...

via Games Industry


Microsoft has sent a message to users on Xbox Live giving notice of scheduled downtime on Monday, reports Eurogamer.net.

The service will be taken down from 09:00 BST (UK) in order for maintenace to be performed, and will be up and running again at around 13:00.

Microsoft won't say what the maintenance is for, although signs point towards the annual autumn update. However, last year, the update was not applied until the end of October.

Unconfirmed reports hint the eventual Live update will include a parental timer, which will let you allocate and limit the amount of time selected users spend playing. ...

via Games Industry


Pictures surfaced today of the box for a new PlayStation 3 starter pack for Europe, with a changed line-up of games.

The picture suggests that the pack will replace the current included games (Motorstorm and Resistance: Fall of Man) with two other SCEE titles: new release Heavenly Sword, and launch title F1 Championship Edition. As before, it will also include a 60GB PS3 and two Sixaxis controllers.

Sony has so far declined to comment on the authenticity of the image.

The source of the image suggests it will retail later this month, at the same price as the current starter pack: EUR 599 (GBP 425).

The current starter pack was launched in the UK on July 18 and the rest of Europe on August 1. There has confusion as to whether or not it is a limited offer, but if this image is genuine, it would suggest that Sony intends to continue the promotion. ...