new press release:

Xploder launches advanced Wii Cheats and Multimedia application

Cheats make you hard to beat!
It doesn’t seem to matter how many times you return to the twilight realm, you simply can’t get past that tricky stage in Zelda. Or maybe you’re longing to drive the Monster Truck in Excite Truck, but you simply haven’t got the time and patience to ‘jump through the many hoops’ required to unlock this special feature. Fear Not! - Xploder Cheat Saves provides you with Wii cheat saves for all the latest games - meaning you get the immediate satisfaction of unlocking game features and levels, without having to spend hours of frustration in front of your console! Download game-busting cheats for Zelda, Excite Truck, Sonic Warioware, Rayman, Wii Sports, Wii Play and many more.

Virtual console insanity!
Has downloading Virtual Console games meant that you’re running out of space on the Wii memory? And if even after all those years you’ve still not managed to make progress in the SNES version of Donkey Kong Country, then Xploder Cheat Saves is for you! The application not only gives you functionality to back-up your Virtual Console games to the PC, you can also access the online database that provides cheats and saves for the retro VC games too!

Multimedia to the max!
OK so your arms are aching and your chandeliers smashed, it’s time to take a break from the energetic pursuits involved in day-to-day gaming and spend some quality time with your new love really getting to know the true capabilities of the Nintendo Wii.

MOVIES: Tired of sitting alone in your bedroom watching movies on your PC? Whilst designed as a fun, family friendly console, the Wii is harbouring hidden secrets! - it has the ability to play your PC movie files. But how on earth are you going to be able to convert DivX files, AVI files and MPEG movies into the MJPEG format? Via an easy to use PC interface Xploder Cheat Saves automatically converts movies for Wii playback, including non copy-protected DVD VOB files.

MUSIC & PHOTOS: Create custom slideshows by transferring converted images and music straight from the PC to your SD card.

Xploder Cheat Saves for Nintendo Wii is the must-have accessory for all Wii owners! Available now from leading games retailers and www.xploder.net (RRP: £19.99/€29.99). Also available to download from www.xploder.net for just £14.99 (€24.99) ...

via gizmodo

Believe it or not, but people are buying PS3s and the poor souls who bought from the last batch of 60GB consoles are claiming their systems are emitting a high-pitched whine when turned on.

A couple of other users at the official PS3 forums are claiming the same thing and it appears only machines with the serial numbers CE133190xxx and CE133212xxx are affected. Anyone out there experiencing the same thing or is this a case of overly sensitive ears? ...

Nintendo has pledged its support of a US-led stance against China's burgeoning military budget, er, counterfeit video games market, according to a company presser today. With few government restrictions holding them back, pirates plundered an estimated $762 million worth of booty in China last year. And these scallywags aren't your typical kid brothers burning DVDs in the basement and exchanging them for lunch allowances in the cafeteria. No, this is well-organized crime, which has accounted for the more than 7.7 million counterfeit gaming products seized during the past four years -- and only a single criminal prosecution brought against the more than 300 Chinese factories and retailers dealing in this illicit trade. To avoid punishment, an operation need only keep its pirated stock below a certain threshold and do away with bookkeeping.

The rampant piracy, which affects hundreds of companies in the games industry, has prompted the US Trade Representative to seek formal consultations with China regarding the government's failure to meet World Trade Organization obligations concerning intellectual property protection. Nintendo has chipped in, providing evidence of piracy in China and other countries during the annual "Special 301" investigation. In turn, the US Trade Representative will use this evidence to push China to comply with global standards. "Progress must be made," urged an unusually stern Nintendo.

via joystiq ...

The Campbell County Public Library in Kentucky recently announced it will carry video games alongside those paper-bound book things with words on the inside. Three local branches will house games from each of the three big systems -- Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation 3. People have been requesting video games for years, a branch manager said, so the library did some research (Did they have to go to another library to do it? Zing!) and found that a large portion of their patrons (people in their early 30s) also happen to be gamers.

Expect to see titles such as SpongeBob SquarePants and the Kingdom Hearts series, as well as sports games like Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007. Each branch will have a ratings board to help parents keep potentially naughty games away from their children. And don't even think about Grand Theft Auto, as the library "won't be collecting the violent games with the harsh language".

via joystiq ...

article from kotaku

The Playstation Portable could be the biggest selling failure in history.

Since it's launch Sony has shipped more than 25 million of the portable gaming devices and at least one analyst predicts that will hit 29 million by the end of the year.

And with the recent drop in price, the PSP has already seen a 300 percent increase in sales. This jump in sales, be it a temporary spike or a signs of things to come, comes with the surprising news that the UMD movie format is also making a bit of a recovery.

As we approach the heart of 2007, Sony sees this as being the year of the Playstation Portable, a year that saw a price drop and return of the UMD, a year that is seeing a change in the portables marketing and a year that will see a slew of major PSP announcements.

"In 2005 we launched the product, last year about establishing the software," said John Koller, senior marketing manager for the PSP. " think this is going to be the year for PSP, I think it's going to be a fantastic year for it.
A very very good year."


Koller said decision to drop the Playstation Portable to $169 was threefold.

"We got some cost savings out of the product, and we wanted to pass that on to the consumers," he said. "The second reason was we looked at the Wal-Mart experience over black Friday, that was really a good point to go to that price point. Lastly, we are really trying to promote the PSP heavily toward the 13 to 17 consumer group."

That new, younger market that Sony is shooting for is one that has seen a significant increase in the past year, Koller said. In fact, 13 to 17-year-olds are the largest group of PSP owners.

"I think that goes back to content," he said. "A lot of the games that have launched have done a lot to target that group on its own."

"The campaign we are including with the price drop is called Dude, Get Your Own," he said. "We've seen an increase in sales immediately."

In the the first two days following the PSP's price drop there was a 300 percent increase in the number of the portables sold.

And with that increase among teen gamers has come a jump in the amount of downloading. Video is the top type of download, with music coming in at number two, Koller said.

While the interest in downloadable content is at an all-time high, Koller still declined to talk about when or if Sony will be launching its own store for content.

Koller was able to talk about UMD, a format I and many gamers and writers though was dying. Not only is Sony not thinking of ditching the format, it seems to be making a come back.

UMD movie sales were actually up 35 percent from 2005 to 2006, Koller said. And that jump in sales enticed Target to bring the format back to their stores.

And games too are attracting attention, with more developers creating original content for the portable.

"Our greatest successes take place when publishers and developers recognize the value of the PSP owner as a PSP owner not repurposing a title," Koller said. "We've actively encouraged third parties in that direction."

The upcoming God of War title for the PSP is a good example of that, he said. It will be unique to the PSP, offering an extension of the plot that made the first two games such a success.

"I think you're going to see a lot more of that," he said. "I think third party is starting to understand the value of doing that."

Riding a wave of increased interested, higher sales and better titles, Sony plans to make some big announcements about the PSP in the near future.

"There will be some major PSP announcements this year," he said, "they will be coming over the course of the next few months." ...

Advanced Media Network's Rumor Reporter got their hands on what they say are print outs from GameStop and EB Games computer sales list.

The two print outs show a number of games but here's the highlights:

DS: Jam Session, Mega Man Star Force Titles (2), Dynasty Warriors (Wi-Fi), Assassin's Creed (Confirmed), Simpsons: The Game, Golden Compass

Wii: The Bigs, Resident Evil Wii Edition (Coming 06/25), CSI 4: Hard Evidence (Confirmed), Simpsons: The Game, Golden Compass, Harvest Moon Wii (11/01/07)

via kotaku ...

Advanced Media Network's Rumor Reporter got their hands on what they say are print outs from GameStop and EB Games computer sales list.

The two print outs show a number of games but here's the highlights:

DS: Jam Session, Mega Man Star Force Titles (2), Dynasty Warriors (Wi-Fi), Assassin's Creed (Confirmed), Simpsons: The Game, Golden Compass

Wii: The Bigs, Resident Evil Wii Edition (Coming 06/25), CSI 4: Hard Evidence (Confirmed), Simpsons: The Game, Golden Compass, Harvest Moon Wii (11/01/07)

via kotaku ...

Advanced Media Network's Rumor Reporter got their hands on what they say are print outs from GameStop and EB Games computer sales list.

The two print outs show a number of games but here's the highlights:

DS: Jam Session, Mega Man Star Force Titles (2), Dynasty Warriors (Wi-Fi), Assassin's Creed (Confirmed), Simpsons: The Game, Golden Compass

Wii: The Bigs, Resident Evil Wii Edition (Coming 06/25), CSI 4: Hard Evidence (Confirmed), Simpsons: The Game, Golden Compass, Harvest Moon Wii (11/01/07)

via kotaku ...

Advanced Media Network's Rumor Reporter got their hands on what they say are print outs from GameStop and EB Games computer sales list.

The two print outs show a number of games but here's the highlights:

DS: Jam Session, Mega Man Star Force Titles (2), Dynasty Warriors (Wi-Fi), Assassin's Creed (Confirmed), Simpsons: The Game, Golden Compass

Wii: The Bigs, Resident Evil Wii Edition (Coming 06/25), CSI 4: Hard Evidence (Confirmed), Simpsons: The Game, Golden Compass, Harvest Moon Wii (11/01/07)

via kotaku ...