Blue Dragon will be released across Europe this Autumn, Microsoft has confirmed this afternoon, with September looking the likely month of launch.

Developed by Mistwalker and Artoon, the Japanese RPG epic is based around a boy named Shu and his friends, who possess the power to control phantoms that mirror the actions of their masters.

It's a typically lavish romp presented in a very impressive cartoon-inspired style. You'll also be able to create your own original attack methods whilst choosing to focus your approach on various different areas, as your dragon-like shadow levels up and gains new abilities.

The game was released in Japan last December, and met with huge critical acclaim. A US release date for the game has been set for August.

via eurogamer ...

In a San Francisco hotel room yesterday, Lionhead's ever-talkative top man Peter Molyneux finally removed the veil from his Fable 2 sequel, revealing its new "unexpected" gameplay feature.

But as it turned out the big surprise wasn't that new after all. As CVG reported back in 2005, each player will have their own dog in Fable 2, which is really just Molyneux's way of trying to get players to feel "genuine love" in the action RPG.

"If I could get you to feel genuine love," he said, "That would be an innovation, that would be drama.You would walk away from that game feeling different, it would stay with you like a great movie or a great book."

The dog is but one of three innovations in Fable 2, Molyneux says, but the other pair are under tight leash for now.

The dog itself looks very impressive on screen, with super-smooth animation and no clumsy AI to speak of. "The dog is all based on simulation", Molyneux points out. As reported earlier, your dog in Fable 2 also mimics your appearance, adopting a fluffy sheepdog guise if you're good or morphing into a rock-hard attack dog if you're bad.

But your mutt also provides less-obvious benefits; he runs ahead just like a real dog, helping guide you through the forest without the use or clutter of a mini map. Molyneux is visually thrilled to get rid of the mini map, which he says has taken away from real exploration of his worlds.

Your four-legged companion also has a place in combat but with no instruction buttons to speak of a new system of attack orders has been created. In Fable 2, your dog picks out the your biggest threat automatically; if you unsheathe your sword he'll go for the enemey with the gun, if you unsheathe your gun, he'll go for the guy with the sword.

Molyneux also spoke briefly on his plans for family in the sequel; apparently you can chose to have either protected or unprotected nookie with your missus, with a chance of having a kid if you choose the latter. As Mr. M points out, this will be the first game to let you play as a pregnant women who slays dragons. Ahem.

The dog stuff seemed to work very well, and you can see it in action for yourself in the first video
below. Oh and yes - we left the tripod at home.

Video Here ...

The Super NES version of the rock-hard classic, Super Ghouls and Ghosts has arrived on the Virtual Console.

For 800 Wii Points, you can once again play as Knight Arthur and run through zombie-packed levels to rescue his girlfriend. Well, that's the idea anyway, but unless you're some kind of super gamer you'll be spending more time looking at the Game Over screen - it's a classic but it's freakin' tough.

Fixed-screen NES shooter, and 1981 arcade hit, Galaga has also turned up, and clearly showing its age. That one will cost you 500 Wii Points.

And Double Dungeons has been added to the Turbografix collection - a two-player co-op RPG quest, and another game that has us thanking the stars for the technological development of games in the past 15 years. 600 Wii Points will get you in one that.

A Link to the Past, where are you?

via cvg ...

via cvg

Zelda director, Eiji Aonuma, told an audience at GDC yesterday that videogaming in Japan is in decline.

Aonuma described the situation as "gamer drift" during his speech, which focused mainly on Zelda and how he has tried to evolve the series to suit changing trends.

Aonuma said that the demand for more complex and realistic games is increasing in America, according to 1Up, where realistic shooting a driving games are favourites.

He pointed out that Japanese gamers were put off by Wind Waker's complexity, while the US frowned at its cutesy graphics, which resulted in disappointing sales. Thus a more realistic approach was taken with Twilight Princess.

It's interesting how gamers in different parts of the world look at games. We personally thought Wind Waker was one of the easiest games in the series.

It's all about getting the right balance, explains Aonuma. What are your thoughts on the recent 3D Zelda games? What do you want to see next? Or don't you care? Let us know below. ...

Microsoft has popped the hood on the American production cars featuring in forthcoming Xbox 360 racing title Forza 2, the 55-vehicle list including new interpretations of muscle cars, old classics and sporty motors.

The list follows in the wake of new screenshots and fun footage that's emerged from GDC this week.

You can view the full list below, but before scrolling down we need to inform you that beans have also been spilled on "very exciting new feature" the beefed up version of the Livery Editor which, Microsoft explains, gives the Forza community "the freedom to truly build their dream vehicle using any of the 300+ cars in the game."

"With the new and improved livery editor, gamers can put their own personal touch on every vehicle in their garage using unique paint schemes, personalized decals and logos, as well as their own art creations", the company has elaborated.

The Livery Editor is tied in with the Xbox Live Auction House in the game, and players can put up their designs for virtual sale. Real money isn't used in the auction house. A post on official Forza forums explains that "You're encouraged to use the auction house to further your in-game 'credits' so you can buy nicer, faster, and more expensive cars (and parts for them)." And car livery.

Anyway, below is the list of American production cars that have been revealed. Vehicles from other parts of the world featuring in Forza 2 are to be revealed as follows - Asian Production Cars (March 22), Tuner and Aftermarket Cars (April 5), Race Class Cars (April 19). The game releases in May.

1997 Acura NSX
2001 Acura Integra Type-R
2002 Acura RSX Type-S
2005 Acura NSX
2006 Acura RL A-Spec
1987 Buick Regal GNX
2004 Cadillac CTS-V
1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS
2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS-454
1970 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
1996 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
2002 Chevrolet Camaro 35th Anniversary SS
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Coupe
2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
1998 Chrysler Eagle Talon TSi Turbo
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT
2005 Chrysler ME Four-Twelve Concept
1968 Chrysler Plymouth Barracuda Formula-S
2006 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6
1996 Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo
1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR
2003 Dodge SRT4
2003 Dodge Viper Competition Coupe
2003 Dodge Viper SRT10
1969 Dodge Charger R/T-SE
2006 Dodge Charger SRT8
1966 Ford GT40 MkII
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429
2000 Ford Mustang Cobra R
2003 Ford Focus SVT
2005 Ford Ford GT
2005 Ford Mustang GT
2006 Ford Focus ST
2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe
2002 Lexus SC430
2003 Lexus IS300
2006 Lexus IS350
2005 Panoz Esperante GTLM
1968 Pontiac GTO Hardtop
2004 Pontiac GTO
2006 Pontiac Solstice
2000 Saleen S281
2004 Saleen S7
2006 Saleen S281 E
2006 Saturn ION Red Line
2005 Scion tC
1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
1968 Shelby Mustang GT-500KR
1999 Shelby Series 1
2007 Shelby GT500

via cvg ...

In the speech made yesterday at GDC Hecker laid into the Wii's technical power, comparing it to two GameCube's stuck together and called it a "piece of s***!"

From the thread the developed in our comments section, everybody seemed to agree that his comments were a little out of order.

Now Hecker has taken them back and apologised during another presentation: "I was trying to be thought provoking and entertaining and fun, and a lot of the stuff went too far over the top on the entertaining and fun side, so that it was no longer thought provoking, just inflammatory. And in the process I hurt a bunch of people I care about. And so, I want to apologise now."

Pressure from above?

via cvg ...

With the free food eaten, appointments done and our backs almost broken from a week of ferrying gadgets between meetings, GDC 2007 has almost come to a close.

To help you reflect on this week of teasing announcements, behind closed door antics and developer bitching, we've consolidated a bunch of our bestest show floor pics so that you can pretend you're at the event long after we've come home and consumed legal alcohol in the pub.

The best part so far? Locating the only place in San Francisco that sells chicken nuggets - and they were wonderfully filthy.

Screens & News at CVG ...

Following Sony's much-discussed PlayStation Home announcement earlier this week, Microsoft's Chris Satchell has talked down the service saying that it's "not a very game-centric approach".

The general manager of Microsoft's Game Developer Group told CVG this afternoon: "I think they've definitely taken some concepts that we originated like achievements, but I think they're pushing in a different direction and we've sort of fundamentally got two different approaches going on here."

"I think theres is very much a vision that people see it and it looks cool but it's fundamentally separate from the games - or at least what they've shown so far."

he continues: "It's a cool world but it's like a little game by itself. Our approach is the other way around; it's that games are the center and that's the star of the show, that's what people buy the console for."

As for how Microsoft is going to answer Sony's user-generated content drive, Satchell says that Forza Motorsport 2 is already prepped to get 360 gamers creating: "You're able to take a car out, completely paint it, completely mod it, tune it and you're able to auction it online, take the funds from that and reimburse them in the game to do whatever you want," he says. "That's great user-generated content. It's not building a world but if you're into racing games it's just as meaningful."

But even Microsoft can't resist Little Big Planet's wool-coated charm: "I think Little Big Planet is very cool," he says. " but I can't see a big portfolio of games at the moment that do this. I don't think there's a whole load to catch up."

via cvg ...

Concluding Zelda designer Eiji Aonuma's GDC session this evening was a new nostalgia-packed trailer of colourful DS installment Phantom Hourglass.

As usual the handheld adventure is looking as wonderful as ever, with lush "art-shaded" dungeons and charming characters animating just as well as in the Gamecube look-a-like. The video also reveals new grappling enemy encounters where you have to rub the touchscreen to break Link free, as well as Link to the Past music tracks that still raise a few hairs.


Trailer Here ...