via CVG

Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Corporation have jointly announced that Ken Kutaragi, representative director, chairman and group CEO of SCEI will retire from his executive position effective June 19, 2007.

Kutaragi is known as the "father of PlayStation" and invented and launched the original PlayStation in 1994 as well as the PS2 in 2000.

Kutaragi will step back from his executive management role to serve as honorary chairman of SCEI and provide insight and support Sony boss Sir Howard Stringer as senior technology advisor.

According to Sony After launching the PlayStation 3 worldwide. Kutaragi has decided to "pursue his dreams beyond PlayStation and to accelerate his network vision."

Kazuo Hirai, president and Group COO at SCEI will be promoted to president and Group CEO, continuing his responsibility as the leader of the PlayStation business.

"I am happy to graduate from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. after introducing four platforms to the PlayStation family," said Ken Kutaragi.

"It has been an exciting experience to change the world of computer entertainment by marrying cutting edge technologies with creative minds from all over the world. I'm looking forward to building on this vision in my next endeavors." ...

Sony's Hot Shots Golf series has made for some of the best arcade-style golf games in recent years, and the new online-enabled sequel in the works for PS3 is coming along nicely.

According to the latest issue of Famitsu magazine, the online lobby will hold up to 50 players, and with up to eight players per hole, you'll see how crowded it gets in the colourful new screens.

Oddly, it's suggested that the showing multiple avatars on the course can act as a distraction to other players - we're not sure that's a good thing. Hopefully you'll have to option to make all other player transparent or invisible.

There will be six courses in total, and the Japanese version of the game will feature 14 playable characters, including Japanese golf star, Shigeki Maruyama. Changes to the character line-up is expected for western versions.

Screens Here

via cvg ...

Calling all Potter fans - EA has released new in-game footage from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the publisher's latest title starring the boy wizard that's set to release alongside the movie this summer.

The movie runs for around 90 seconds and can be seen via our video player over on the right.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix videogame is being brought to console, handheld and PC and relives the fifth-instalment adventures of Potter and pals as the wizard and witch war between Lord Voldermort and his minions and the good guys escalates.

Potter fanatics can look forward to controlling many of the series famous characters - Harry obviously, along with the likes of Dumbledore and Sirius Black - throughout the tale in locations that EA promises "accurately reflect the world showcased in the film".

Trailer Here and More actual film trailers at Harry Potter News ...

Empire Interactive has picked up publishing rights to third-person action game The Shield that's based on the TV series, and will release the title on PC and PS2 in July.

The Shield videogame has been developed in co-operation with those involved with the TV show for authenticity's sake and brings to the polygon world the gritty police action and Detective Vic Mackey and his strike team.

Players will be able to immerse themselves in moments taken direct from the TV series, we're told, while the storyline's described as a "lost episode" and an authentic extension of the show.

So, crime-busting in Farmington will involve shootouts and punch-ups with the criminal element, and even a bit of stealth creeps in along with police tactics of a type apparently "never before seen in a video game". You'll also get to dabble in the dodgier side of the job, issuing bribes, planting incriminating evidence and using brute force while avoiding being busted by Internal Affairs

Screens Here ...

Crackdown dev Realtime Worlds is teasing fans of its Xbox 360 crime-buster with a screenshot taken of downloadable content for the game that's in the pipeline.

Uploaded to this here page, the image was posted in the official Crackdown forums by community geezer Agent G.

"Hello All - Hopefully the PR snipers won't take me down or this image, but here's a quick look at a piece of content coming to you soon", Agent G said in his (or her) post, explaining that the screenshot shows a new game type and a new type of vehicle. Let speculation commence

Screens Here ...

Staff lay offs at Sony may not end with the recent jobs cut at its European operation, it's emerged.

Reuters reports that the US and Japanese arms of the company could see redundancies, although SCE spokesperson Satoshi Fukuoka said nothing has been decided in this regard yet.

It's reckoned PS3 sales have been slower than expected, but Fukuoka said any job cuts occurring at Sony America and/or Sony Japan would be due to changes in how the games industry works - e.g. changes in software distribution from traditional retail to online - rather than sales performance of the new console.

Recently news broke that 160 jobs were to be axed throughout Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, yesterday details arriving on the SCEE development studios affected by the cuts.

via cvg ...

Videos showing the locations of COG tags in Gears of War have been released on Xbox Live Marketplace, but you have to pay for them.

There are individual videos for Acts 1 through to 5 and, ranging from between 51MB and 150MB in file size, cost 100 Microsoft Points each. Or 85 pence. Or £4.25 for all five.

Unsurprisingly, the charge for the videos has got people's backs up as information on the location of COG tags is available on the internet for free.

Collecting COG tags in the game gets you achievements and gamescore points.

via cvg ...

Heres the full list of what import games and toys have been released this week from Play Asia

PlayStation3™:
Communicator Headset US$ 19.90
Data Max US$ 19.90
Dust & Nicotine Guard 3 US$ 16.90
Hori Pad 3 Turbo (black) US$ 24.90
Hori Pad 3 Turbo (blue) US$ 24.90
Hori Pad 3 Turbo (red) US$ 24.90
Madden NFL 07 JPN US$ 64.90
MotorStorm ASIA US$ 59.90

Nintendo Wii™:
Bust-A-Move Bash! US US$ 44.90
One Piece Unlimited Adventure JPN US$ 64.90
Silicon Cover Set (blue) JPN US$ 14.90
Silicon Cover Set (gray) JPN US$ 14.90
Silicon Cover Set (white) JPN US$ 14.90
The Dog Island: Hitotsu no Hana no Monogatari JPN US$ 64.90
Wii Remote Control Fingerprint Guard Film JPN US$ 6.99
Wii Remote Controller Protect Film JPN US$ 4.99
Wii de Yawaraka Atama Juku JPN US$ 49.90

Xbox360™:
Test Drive Unlimited JPN US$ 59.90
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas JPN US$ 64.90

Misc:
Broadband Router US$ 49.90
HDMI Optical Selector US$ 289.90

PlayStation2™:
Binchou-Tan: Shiwase Koyomi JPN US$ 64.90
Binchou-Tan: Shiwase Koyomi [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 95.00
Elvandia Story JPN US$ 64.90
Eureka Seven Vol 2: The New Vision US US$ 39.90
Ichigo Mashimaro (Shock SP) JPN US$ 34.90
Iinazuke JPN US$ 64.90
Iinazuke [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Negima!? Dream Tactic Yume miru Otome ha Princess [My Hime Version] JPN US$ 64.90
Negima!? Dream Tactic Yume miru Otome ha Princess [Utahime Version] JPN US$ 59.90
Ojousama Kumikyoku: Sweet Concert JPN US$ 64.90
Ojousama Kumikyoku: Sweet Concert [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 89.90
Orange Honey: Boku wa Kimi ni Koishiteru JPN US$ 64.90
Orange Honey: Boku wa Kimi ni Koishiteru [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Raiden III US US$ 39.90
Rogue Hearts Dungeon JPN US$ 64.90
Shinkyouku Soukai Polyphonica JPN US$ 34.90
Siren 2 (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Taiko no Tatsujin Super Animehit (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Taiko no Tatsujin: Appare Sandaime (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Tengai Makyou III: Namida (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
The Dog Island: Hitsotsuno no Hana no Monogatari JPN US$ 64.90

Nintendo DS™:
Arasuji de Kitaeru Sokumimi no Susume DS JPN US$ 39.90
Arasuji de Oboeru Sokudoku no Susume DS JPN US$ 39.90
Atama no Kaiten no Training: Rubik's Cube & Chou Yuumei Puzzle Tachi JPN US$ 34.90
Choco Inu no Sweets Depart JPN US$ 48.90
Chou Shittou Caduceus (Atlus Best Collection) JPN US$ 29.90
Daito Giken Koushiki Pachi-Slot Simulator: Hihouden - Ossu! Banchou - Yoshimune DS JPN US$ 48.90
Dekitayo! Mama, Onna no Ko JPN US$ 39.90
Dekitayo! Mama, Otoko no Ko JPN US$ 39.90
Eiken-Ou: 3-Kyuuhen JPN US$ 39.90
Eiken-Ou: 4-Kyuuhen JPN US$ 39.90
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings JPN US$ 48.90
Gamics Series Vol. 1: Yokoyama Mitsuteru - San Goku Shi - Vol. 4 - Sangoku Teiritsu JPN US$ 39.90
Hana Deka Club: Animal Paradise JPN US$ 48.90
Kokoro ga Mezameru Otoko Tachi no Nurie DS: Tamiya Box Art JPN US$ 39.90
Korede Haji o Kakanai: Ashita Tsukaeru DS Business Manner JPN US$ 39.90
Meteos: Disney Magic JPN US$ 48.90
Momotarou Dentetsu DS: Tokyo & Japan JPN US$ 48.90
Momotarou Dentetsu DS: Tokyo & Japan (w/ Nintendo DS Lite Console) JPN US$ 249.90
Nanpure VOW JPN US$ 39.90
Nintendo DS Lite (Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings ~Sky Pirate Edition~) - 110V JPN US$ 299.90
Panel de Pon DS JPN US$ 39.90
PikuPiku: Toku to E Ninaru 3-tsu no Puzzle JPN US$ 29.90
Pokemon Diamond US US$ 39.90
Pokemon Pearl US US$ 39.90
Super Black Bass: Kitahankyuu Tsuru JPN US$ 48.90
Touch Pen Knock Metal (Black) US$ 4.99
Touch Pen Knock Metal (Silver) US$ 4.99

Sony PSP™:
Doko Demo Issho: Let's Gakkou! (PSP the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
MLB 07: The Show KOR US$ 49.90
Minna no Map 2 JPN US$ 48.90
Minna no Map 2 (w/ GPS Receiver) JPN US$ 95.00
Monster Hunter Portable (PSP the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 19.90
Test Drive Unlimited US US$ 39.90
Valhalla Knights US US$ 39.90

PC Games:
A.I.M. 2: Clan Wars (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 34.90
Ascension to the Throne (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 34.90
Cossacks 2 Gold Edition (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 39.90
Rider's World: I Want to Jump ASIA US$ 24.90
Rider's World: I Want to Race ASIA US$ 24.90
Rider's World: I Want to Ride ASIA US$ 24.90
Warhammer: Mark of Chaos (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 39.90
Whirlwind of Vietnam: UH-1 (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 34.90

Book releases:

Gyakuten Saiban Official Fan Book Vol.3 JPN US$ 14.90
Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Official Nintendo Player's Guide US US$ 14.90
Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Official Strategy Guide US US$ 16.90
Vampire Graphic File JPN US$ 29.90

Toys & Misc:
Bible Black 1/6 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - La Noche De Walpurgis JPN N/A
Capcom Figure Collection Basara JPN US$ 6.90
Monster Hunter - Hunter Goods Collection Life Figure (2nd Edition) JPN US$ 4.99
Neon Genesis Evangelion ...

press release:

Nintendo Co., Ltd., today reported final consolidated fiscal year revenues of 966.5 billion yen and operating profits of 226.0 billion yen for the year ending March 31, 2007, an increase of 90 percent and 150 percent, respectively, over the same period one year ago. Both numbers are record highs for the company.

The results are due largely to full-year sales of more than 23 million portable Nintendo DS™ systems globally, along with 123 million Nintendo DS games. Since introduction, the Nintendo DS has now eclipsed lifetime sales of 40 million systems.

In addition, in less than five months since introduction, the company sold 5.84 million of its new Wii™ home video game systems globally, virtually every one snapped up immediately by consumers, along with nearly 29 million Wii games. Wii has taken a step toward becoming a cultural phenomenon, appealing widely to both avid and previously disinterested game-playing audiences.

For the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2007, Nintendo projects sales of 14 million Wii systems and 55 million games worldwide. The company projects sales of 22 million Nintendo DS hardware unit sales and 130 million software units sales. Nintendo forecasts consolidated sales increasing nearly 18 percent to 1.14 trillion yen, and operating profits growing nearly 20 percent to 270 billion yen. ...