via IGN

Today, Electronic Arts announced the development of a videogame based off of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The game's release is scheduled for July 2007 in order to coincide with the release of the feature film also based on the book.

The events and locations of the game are designed to closely replicate those of the novel and the film. Players will be able to explore each of the film's key areas, while contending with magical adversaries like only Harry can do. The game gives players the ability to play multiple characters including Harry Potter, Dumbledore, and Sirius Black.

Under development by EA's UK Studio, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, and PC.

Check out Harry Potter News for the latest news from Hogwarts including a 4 minute trailer of the upcoming film. ...

The latest issue of Jason Kraft and Chris Kwak's 'Video Game Journal' for the Susquehanna Financial Group examines the software attach rate for the Xbox 360, and explores why such an "alarmingly high" rate may not bode well for Microsoft's next-generation console.

Specifically, the report cites the recently announced Xbox 360 attach rate of around five games per console sold as confirmed by Microsoft in October, a number that was up from the roughly four games per console attach rate announced by the company at the console's launch in 2005.

It concludes: "We believe the unusually high attach rate on the 360 is a sign of an increasingly unhealthy console growth rate, and should be worrisome to publishers and investors."
The analysts further explain their hypothesis by offering that a significant portion of the Xbox 360 consoles currently in circulation were purchased by hard-core gamers, who, by definition, purchase a lot of games.

In conclusion, the authors state, "If the Xbox 360 sports an attach rate of ten by holiday 2007, it will probably be because it has failed to gather critical momentum. What does it benefit publishers and investors if ten games are being purchased by a total audience of 10 million 360 owners? It doesn't take effort to see that a console with an attach rate of 8 and an installed base of 50 million is superior to a console with an attach rate of 12 with an installed base of 20 mln."

More info ...

news via gamespot

Virtual Console gets updated with first games from NEC's legacy system; Bonk's Adventure and Bomberman '93 selling for 600 points each.

When Nintendo launched the Wii on Sunday, it did so with the promised dozen downloadable retro games available on the system's Virtual Console. But while the initial 12 offerings on the service included titles from the NES, the Super Nintendo, the Sega Genesis, and the Nintendo 64, the small slate of previously announced TurboGrafx-16 games was entirely absent.

Nintendo rectified that situation today, as the company has released a pair of TG-16 games on the Virtual Console. Gamers can now download Bonk's Adventure, the debut of the system's megacephalic mascot, and Hudson's Bomberman '93. Each game will set users back 600 Wii Points, or $6.

By the end of the year, Bonk and Bomberman will be joined on the Virtual Console by a handful of other TurboGrafx games, including Super Star Soldier, Victory Run, and Dungeon Explorer. ...

news via gamespot

Virtual Console gets updated with first games from NEC's legacy system; Bonk's Adventure and Bomberman '93 selling for 600 points each.

When Nintendo launched the Wii on Sunday, it did so with the promised dozen downloadable retro games available on the system's Virtual Console. But while the initial 12 offerings on the service included titles from the NES, the Super Nintendo, the Sega Genesis, and the Nintendo 64, the small slate of previously announced TurboGrafx-16 games was entirely absent.

Nintendo rectified that situation today, as the company has released a pair of TG-16 games on the Virtual Console. Gamers can now download Bonk's Adventure, the debut of the system's megacephalic mascot, and Hudson's Bomberman '93. Each game will set users back 600 Wii Points, or $6.

By the end of the year, Bonk and Bomberman will be joined on the Virtual Console by a handful of other TurboGrafx games, including Super Star Soldier, Victory Run, and Dungeon Explorer. ...

news via gamespot

Virtual Console gets updated with first games from NEC's legacy system; Bonk's Adventure and Bomberman '93 selling for 600 points each.

When Nintendo launched the Wii on Sunday, it did so with the promised dozen downloadable retro games available on the system's Virtual Console. But while the initial 12 offerings on the service included titles from the NES, the Super Nintendo, the Sega Genesis, and the Nintendo 64, the small slate of previously announced TurboGrafx-16 games was entirely absent.

Nintendo rectified that situation today, as the company has released a pair of TG-16 games on the Virtual Console. Gamers can now download Bonk's Adventure, the debut of the system's megacephalic mascot, and Hudson's Bomberman '93. Each game will set users back 600 Wii Points, or $6.

By the end of the year, Bonk and Bomberman will be joined on the Virtual Console by a handful of other TurboGrafx games, including Super Star Soldier, Victory Run, and Dungeon Explorer. ...

news via vggen

In its Q3 2006 earnings conference call today, GameStop revealed the early attach rates (number of software units sold per console) for both the Wii and PlayStation 3.

The PS3 was on the short end of the stick, with a measly 1.5 games per console sold, with the early winners being Resistance: Fall of Man and Madden NFL 07 (no surprises there). Meanwhile, the Wii enjoyed a much higher 3.0 attach rate, with the top sellers being Red Steel and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

While GameStop blamed the low PS3 attach rate on the high percentage of consoles being resold for a profit (primarily on eBay), no doubt the high price of the console itself also played a role. GameStop expects the PS3's attach rate to pick up once the console is in the hands of "real gamers." ...

news via vggen

In its Q3 2006 earnings conference call today, GameStop revealed the early attach rates (number of software units sold per console) for both the Wii and PlayStation 3.

The PS3 was on the short end of the stick, with a measly 1.5 games per console sold, with the early winners being Resistance: Fall of Man and Madden NFL 07 (no surprises there). Meanwhile, the Wii enjoyed a much higher 3.0 attach rate, with the top sellers being Red Steel and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

While GameStop blamed the low PS3 attach rate on the high percentage of consoles being resold for a profit (primarily on eBay), no doubt the high price of the console itself also played a role. GameStop expects the PS3's attach rate to pick up once the console is in the hands of "real gamers." ...

news via vggen

In its Q3 2006 earnings conference call today, GameStop revealed the early attach rates (number of software units sold per console) for both the Wii and PlayStation 3.

The PS3 was on the short end of the stick, with a measly 1.5 games per console sold, with the early winners being Resistance: Fall of Man and Madden NFL 07 (no surprises there). Meanwhile, the Wii enjoyed a much higher 3.0 attach rate, with the top sellers being Red Steel and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

While GameStop blamed the low PS3 attach rate on the high percentage of consoles being resold for a profit (primarily on eBay), no doubt the high price of the console itself also played a role. GameStop expects the PS3's attach rate to pick up once the console is in the hands of "real gamers." ...

news via ign

We want 480p! The current word on where the elusive cables are available.

November 21, 2006 - Though Nintendo decided against jumping on the High-Definition bandwagon, the Wii isn't incapable of generating something better than archaic 480i resolution. By means of Component Video Cables, the Wii is able to output 480p—progressive rather than interlaced—which makes a surprising difference on any TV capable of accepting such a signal, like pretty much every HDTV and LCD on the market.

Somewhat frustratingly, Wii Component Video Cables are not easy to come by, especially in the midst of the post-launch frenzy. Nintendo's own online store has been the primary provider of the Wii Component Cables in the weeks before launch. Unfortuantely, the store seems unable to keep the cables in stock for more than a few hours at a time, and has been consistently sold out of the optional cables since a few days before the official Wii launch. The store currently lists the $29.95 cables as out-of-stock, but announces that more cables will be available in "the week of November 28."

Nintendo also expects first party Nintendo Wii Component Cables to arrive at retailers like Best Buy, GameStop, and Circuit City in early to mid December. For those unable to wait quite so long, we've got word that Wii Component Cables from third-party manufacturer React will be hitting shelves at Best Buy later this week. You may have to brave some Black Friday mobs to pick them up, so try not to become involved in any stampedes, assaults, or retail riots while you're there, as such behavior is simply not in keeping with the Tao of Wii. ...