via kotaku

Hottest game in Japan? According to Amazon, it's SNK's witch toucher Doki Doki Majo Shinpan. The game was previously known as Doki Doki Majo Saiban ("Throbbing Witch Trial"). A quick summary: Search for witches lurking in a junior high school. When the search is narrowed down, the suspected junior high school witch is examined with the touch pen. Usually, there's a "witch's crest" hidden somewhere on her body which can appear in "Witch Check Mode."

The DS game isn't out until July, but it's already topping Amazon Japan's "Best Seller" list. It's more popular than Final Fantasy Tactics and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. No, really! Over on the Doki Majo blog, the game's producer writes that he can't believe this has happened and gives out a big thank you. This crazy little game could be SNK's biggest hit in like forever. ...

Nintendo's CEO and president, Satoru Iwata, has answered a number of questions in a financial results briefing on the company's Web site, including addressing the Wii shortage and mobile gaming, and hitting back at those who believe that the Wii and DS are not as high-tech as competitors such as the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.

The Nintendo president admitted that Wii shortages were an issue, and apologised for them by saying simply, "We are sorry that we were unable to sufficiently forecast this kind of demand." Iwata added that the original plan had been to sell the Wii through a variety of retail outlets alongside video game stores to reach a greater market penetration, although currently this is now off the table. The reason for this is, according to Iwata, "[We] have to supply enough to meet the demands from our existing customers, before we try to expand to new outlets."

One of the reasons for the supply chain problems have been production bottlenecks in the process. "Making a significant volume of the high-tech hardware, and making an additional volume, is not an easy task at all," commented Iwata. "In fact, when we clear one bottleneck for a production increase, we will face another one."

To deal with the Wii's supply chain issues, Iwata said the Mario Factory is increasing production of the console and a "small increase" is expected in retail outlets starting from this month.

Iwata also slammed criticism of the Wii and DS from those who had said they are not truly next-gen. "While we are on this subject, it looks like some people are misunderstanding that Nintendo is not incorporating state-of-the-art technologies into its products," rebutted the executive. "Just as an example, we are using state-of-the-art technologies to realize the compact-sized Wii console with low power consumption."

Iwata also added that more premium content would be coming to the Wii Channel network in the wake of the successful Virtual Console, where classic games from past Nintendo platforms can be downloaded on the Wii. "When Nintendo thinks we have a channel which is worth asking our customers to pay for, we are in a position to make a business out of it," he said. "I am not saying that the existing services that we are offering for free of charge today will suddenly become a paid service."

Iwata also denied the possibility of expanding Nintendo's software into the similar market of mobile phone users, or that the mobile phone market was a threat to the DS. He said that although there were some 90 million mobile phone users in Japan, these cell phones worked across a variety of different architectures, which required different game software for each. The 20 million-odd worldwide DS owners might be much smaller than the international mobile-phone customer base, but the former has a unified software platform.

"I understand many people have been predicting that mobile phones would eat up the portable game machine business in the future, since more than five years ago," Iwata bemused. "If their predictions were right, we would not have today's situation. ...In the case of the DS, when there are 16.5 million DS hardware units in Japan, software can become a million-seller if just one out of 16.5 hardware owners have purchased the software."

Iwata was also asked if Nintendo might hire Ken Kutaragi, Sony Computer Entertainment's ex-chairman and CEO, in light of his stepping down last week to "pursue other projects." "I don't think we will do that," Iwata said.

via gamespot ...

New from Divineo China



- Model includes a bright LED for a custom look
- After the easy one time only installation, flash your Xbox360 without the need to open it ever again.
- Works with all Xbox360 drives that can be firmware-upgraded.
- High Quality digital Sata exchange switching
- No soldering required at all = no chance to brick your drive from bad soldering.
- Installation is done in just a few minutes
- Built in eject button, 360/PC switch, HDD/PC switch.
- High quality Sata Ports
- Can transfer all data from the Xbox360 HD to your PC
- Superior quality design.of casemodding accessories.
- LED version will be available for crystal, smoke colors of Xeno Top Gear
- Comes with 360 opening tool for opening the console
- No need for external power supply, Xeno Top Gear is fully powered by the console. ...

New from Divineo China

Remember all PS3 Games are Worldwide Region Free



Spider-Man 3 allows players to experience the actions of heroic red-suited Spider-Man and, for the first time ever, his darker, more mysterious black-suited persona. Set in a larger, dynamic, free-roaming New York City, the game gives players the freedom to choose their own gameplay experience through multiple movie-based and original storylines, fully integrated city missions and performance rewards including improved speed, combat maneuvers and agility. In Spider-Man 3, players draw upon Spider-Man's completely revamped combat abilities as they protect the city and defeat nemeses using expanded aerial fighting, finishing moves and dynamic webbing during missions and epic boss battles. ...

via cvg

With invitations already sent out for the North American closed beta, the first shaky-cam shots of PlayStation Home are starting to leak out of the woodwork - and here they are.

This first batch, which emerged on the internet this morning, shows quite a bit of the PS3 'Second Life-like' service in action including interacting with your virtual PSP and those damned in-game adverts.

There's also a shot of Home's multiplayer bowling in action, which we're almost certain we won't be able to play without sorely missing the aid of a Wii Remote.

There's no word on when the Home beta will reach Europe yet, but glance your eyes downwards to see the rest of the lovely screenshots.

Screens Via Comments ...

via cvg

With invitations already sent out for the North American closed beta, the first shaky-cam shots of PlayStation Home are starting to leak out of the woodwork - and here they are.

This first batch, which emerged on the internet this morning, shows quite a bit of the PS3 'Second Life-like' service in action including interacting with your virtual PSP and those damned in-game adverts.

There's also a shot of Home's multiplayer bowling in action, which we're almost certain we won't be able to play without sorely missing the aid of a Wii Remote.

There's no word on when the Home beta will reach Europe yet, but glance your eyes downwards to see the rest of the lovely screenshots.

Screens Via Comments ...

Respect Picross DS. We know it looks dull but this simple-looking puzzle game is so addictive it will take over your DS-playing life for months, and it's out next Friday, May 11.

It's tough to explain, but the idea is that the grid stages conceal a hidden picture and, using the numbers around the outside of the grid, you have to figure out which blocks to chisel away to reveal the picture. And it's HARD AS NAILS.

Old-school Nintendo fans may remember the original, Mario Picross, which was released on Game Boy in 1995, and is one of our favourite GB games of all time.

Look out for Picross DS on shelves next Friday for £29.99.

via cvg ...

via cvg

Hackers working to create illegal copies of HD-DVD movies have managed to circumvent anti-piracy software on the discs using Microsoft's Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on drive.

According to Game Pro, hackers have made use of the add-on to chisel a hole in the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) used to prevent illegal copying of the discs.

The industry is, however, fighting back with new HD-DVD discs that boast increased anti-piracy encryption, and will only work on players with updated AACS software on them.

This may mean 360 HD-Players will need updating via Xbox Live, although Microsoft was unavailable for comment at the time of writing. ...

GTR developer SimBin has informed CVG that it's to make an announcement regards the Xbox 360 version of the game next week.

We confirmed yesterday with THQ, who was to publish GTR on Xbox 360, that it has in fact dropped the game.

A spokesperson for the publisher told us its "focus within the racing genre is continuing to build THQ's internally developed Stuntman, Juiced and MX franchises."

In response to a query regarding the future of the hardcore racing sim on Microsoft's console, SimBin vice president and CCO Magnus Ling told CVG, "We are preparing a public announcement to be distributed in next week regarding GTR X360 plus our road forward".

We read from that that game hasn't been canned at least, with SimBin set to announce a new publishing deal with the title. We'll let you know as soon as we hear more.

via cvg ...