Super Paper Mario will be released for Nintendo Wii on 9th April in the States, Nintendo told its American buddies this afternoon, confirming an earlier report in Nintendo Power to the effect that it would be out that month.

Developed by Intelligent Systems, Super Paper Mario had originally been lined up for the GameCube, but with that console's demise hastened by Wii excitement the game shifted to the newer format, where its platform and role-playing hybrid style will have a chance to find a wide early audience.

Like the N64 and GameCube Paper Mario games (and, to some extent, Alphadream's Mario & Luigi series) before it, Super Paper Mario will consist of side-scrolling platform-style gameplay, directed by holding the Wiimote sideways and using it like a regular game controller, but interestingly it will allow players to switch to three dimensions to aid exploration. Players will also collect Pixls, which add game functionality that draws upon Wiimote capabilities.

If that sounds a bit vague, it's because there simply isn't a huge amount known of the game. The good news is that, given the unquestionable pedigree of past Paper Mario games, it's probably a bit of a dead cert. Expect to see it ripped lovingly to pieces pretty soon after the 9th.

via eurogamer ...

The first details of LucasArts' PS3 and Xbox 360 Star Wars project have finally emerged, from the latest issue of US mag Game Informer.

It's called Star Wars: Force Unleashed and takes place between Episode III and Episode IV, when new Sith on the block Darth Vader is out to wipe the galaxy clean of runaway Jedi.

As Vader's apprentice, you're on a secret mission to dive head-first into the forbidden Dark Side of the force, take out the emperor and rule the galaxy as master and apprentice. Awww.

Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are being developed in-house at Lucasarts, while PS2, PSP and DS duties have been outsourced to another, unnamed developer.

George Lucas reportedly has a lot of input in the project, and even helped design some of the characters.

Force Unleashed uses LucasArts' much-touted Eurphoria engine, which calculates environmental damage such as smashing crates in real-time. One given example of the tech is how a tree will either break in two or splinter realistically depending on how you hit it. Likewise, steel will dent appropriately when damaged your fancy Force powers.

And speaking of Force powers, many of the world-bending tricks from the E3 tech demo are present in Force Unleashed, including the "cannon ball"-like force push, with controls presented in a similar vein to the excellent Psi-Ops.

One scene reportedly has you battling Jedi Knight Shaak Ti in the Jedi Temple, after the galaxy-wide order to exterminate of the Jedi. There's also the suggestion of being able to control your own pack of Rancors, the gigantic beasties that Jabba the Hutt likes to keep under his gaff.

But we all know how Star Wars ends so it's going to be a very predictable cock-up for Vadar's Palpatine-trouncing plans, right? LucasArts promises to shake up the Star Wars lore with alternate endings in Unleashed, where the bad guys really can win.

We'll bring you more details - and hopefully media - as it arrives. Where's the Wii version though? Perfect for the Wii Remote...

via cvg ...

The first details of LucasArts' PS3 and Xbox 360 Star Wars project have finally emerged, from the latest issue of US mag Game Informer.

It's called Star Wars: Force Unleashed and takes place between Episode III and Episode IV, when new Sith on the block Darth Vader is out to wipe the galaxy clean of runaway Jedi.

As Vader's apprentice, you're on a secret mission to dive head-first into the forbidden Dark Side of the force, take out the emperor and rule the galaxy as master and apprentice. Awww.

Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are being developed in-house at Lucasarts, while PS2, PSP and DS duties have been outsourced to another, unnamed developer.

George Lucas reportedly has a lot of input in the project, and even helped design some of the characters.

Force Unleashed uses LucasArts' much-touted Eurphoria engine, which calculates environmental damage such as smashing crates in real-time. One given example of the tech is how a tree will either break in two or splinter realistically depending on how you hit it. Likewise, steel will dent appropriately when damaged your fancy Force powers.

And speaking of Force powers, many of the world-bending tricks from the E3 tech demo are present in Force Unleashed, including the "cannon ball"-like force push, with controls presented in a similar vein to the excellent Psi-Ops.

One scene reportedly has you battling Jedi Knight Shaak Ti in the Jedi Temple, after the galaxy-wide order to exterminate of the Jedi. There's also the suggestion of being able to control your own pack of Rancors, the gigantic beasties that Jabba the Hutt likes to keep under his gaff.

But we all know how Star Wars ends so it's going to be a very predictable cock-up for Vadar's Palpatine-trouncing plans, right? LucasArts promises to shake up the Star Wars lore with alternate endings in Unleashed, where the bad guys really can win.

We'll bring you more details - and hopefully media - as it arrives. Where's the Wii version though? Perfect for the Wii Remote...

via cvg ...

via cvg

To celebrate the release of Realtime World's brilliant free-roaming car-flinger Crackdown this Friday, CVG has teamed up with Microsoft to give away three copies of the game complete with Halo 3 beta invites.

To enter head on over to the competition page, ...

The game profile page for Spider-Man 3 on the EB Games website suggests that the Wii version of Spiderman 3 will contain two extra characters: Morbius and Shriek.

The same EBGames page also contains a detailed list of features for the game. These include a new combat system, unique powers that differ when Spider-man changes from his normal suit to the new black one, and a Wii-specific control system that will give players the "sensation of swinging through the city via the Wii Remote".

Oblivious as to where the retail site obtained this information, with nothing regarding exclusive content having been officially announced, CVG went on the prowl.

Activision told CVG that the existence of these characters were not part of any official announcement made by Activision, and therefore suggested that EBGames' claim is mere rumour and speculation.

Could this be part of a leaked press release? We'll keep our ears close to the ground.

via cvg ...

Sony has revealed that the first 500,000 "purchasers" of PS3 who registered on the PlayStation Network will receive a Blu-ray version of Casino Royale.

The deal's a bit similar to the one Microsoft offered with offering an HD version of King Kong when you picked up the 360 HD-DHD player. Casino Royale's obviously a better film though...

Darren Carter, VP Brand and Consumer Marketing said, "The PlayStation Network unlocks the broad range of interactive entertainment features of PlayStation 3. It's easy to set up, offers free online gaming, has great tools for staying in touch with friends and family, and includes a wide variety of content for download through the PlayStation Store."

via cvg ...

Bungie is allowing Halo 3 gamers to mute any player they find annoying by a simple press of the Back button.

The latest Bungie update included some actual useful information this time: "Anyone who's played MP on Xbox Live knows the following is true: Teenagers, plus anonymity, plus microphone = idiot. The 'A-Hole Button' in Halo 3 lets you exact instant, silent vengeance. These kind of vocal buttmunches, as it turns out, are exactly as fun to play against as normal people, as long as you can't hear them."

Any fool can do it too, "you simply press a button (back button, for the moment anyway) and up comes the score list with everyone's tag on it. The right stick lets you highlight the miscreant and you can then instantly mute them for the rest of the game. These morons continue smacktalking anyway because they can't help themselves, but if you don't have to listen to it, you can simply enjoy killing them over and over again, knowing that as their Ritalin wears off and their frustration builds, it's less and less fun for them. Aaaah. So satisfying."

That's us muted then...

via cvg ...

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures developer Funcom is aiming to support cross-platform adventuring between PC and Xbox 360 with its MMORPG.

Revealing that the developer is "toying around with many different solutions" to cross-platform action, Conan product manger Erling Ellingsen went on to explain possible options in an interview to be published shortly.

"...one is having some shared servers and some servers that are not shared - simply to give players the freedom of choice. What solution we actually do end up with is something we will have to reveal later".

However, before any eventual solution to cross-platform is reached, numerous hurdles will have to be overcome.

"There are several issues with mixing people on the same server. Will they be able to communicate well enough with each other? Will the console users be less responsive than the PC users? There are many issues that must be addressed," Ellingsen said.

via cvg ...

If you like the simple but amusing boxing game in the Wii Sports compilation, you'll be happy to know that the Fight Night series could be making its way to Wii.

In an interview with doghouseboxing.com, Fight Night producer, Michael Blank, noted the how well suited the Wii Remote is to the boxing series.

"We're talking about it right now. We're contemplating and we definitely feel there are some exciting things we can do with the Fight Night franchise and the Wii. When you play Wii Boxing it is a very simple experience and I think that is what they designed it to be just to let you know that you can throw punches.

"With Fight Night we have an amazing simulation of Boxing and so we need to take those Wii controls and tailor it to what the Fight Night consumer might want to experience. We are looking at it right now and I am sure you will see something some time in the future on the Wii."

Fight Night on Wii has great potential, but only if EA can strike upon a precise control system that doesn't feel as random and inaccurate as Wii Boxing sometimes feels.

In reference to the estimated release of Fight Night Round 4, Blank comments: "It won't be within the next year, I don't believe .The reason for that is that we want to revolutionize that game again. Just like the XBOX 360/ PS3 with the punch and amazing visuals we want to take the next leap for the next Fight Night."

Blank also cites downloadable content as a feature of the latest games console that Fight Night could likely take advantage of in the future.

via cvg ...