t's been over a week since our last brush with PS3's premier Stylish Hard Action game, so here's some images from Devil May Cry 4's Tokyo Game Show demo environments to dry those tears.

As only a taster of what we can expect from new lead Nero and his new demon-busting grounds, the city of Fortuna, the demo was as teasing as it was finger-numbingly furious. Nero was missing most of his combos, and the two new gameplay elements - the 'acceleration' of his sword, the Red Queen, and his demonically-possessed arm's powers - were mostly kept up his dashing leather sleeves.

Considering the impact the first DMC made on the early PS2 scene, though, we're pretty sure DMC4 will be ready to rock with all those surprises and more when it arrives next year

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Apart from staggering under the hefty title of the 'game that is going to save 360 in Japan', Blue Dragon is also a rather stunning-looking RPG, as this clip of the combat system in action demonstrates.

Created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the chap behind the first editions of the Final Fantasy series, the game harnesses the same traditional elements of orthodox turn-based encounters, random battle and wailing guitar solos, while also adding next-gen graphics and spectacular effects. Sounds good doesn't it? Well it's designed to push more buttons for hardcore RPG-fans than Daley Thompson's Decathlon.

And you can see it all for yourself via the movies tab above, where a click will reveal the game's all-powerful Shadow Change creatures. These blue behemoths provide the muscle for your party of child warriors developing into specialist Sword, Assassin and Power varieties and levelling up as your heroes do.

Enjoy this footage while you can because, while Blue Dragon is released with a Wii-spoiling 7 December date in Japan, it looks like we will have to wait quite some time to see a converted and translated version over here.

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Stringer says new console is already "a creative success"

Sony CEO Howard Stringer has conceded that the company must explore new ways of boosting profits in order to "offset the performance of the PlayStation 3".

Last week, Sony posted its Q2 financial results, revealing a drop in profits of more than 90 per cent - but Stringer is still confident of meeting margin targets.

"We promised the margins for next year will be 5 percent and we have every intention of doing that," he confirmed.

"Considering some of the additional costs of PlayStation 3, we have to generate some excitement and profits from elsewhere in the company to offset the performance of PlayStation 3."

Stringer added that Sony's consumer electronics division is performing well at present, and said the company's movie division is also set to pull in healthy profits.

He went on to concede that PS3 will perform better in its second year as software sales start to increase, but questioned the validity of rumblings about a delay.

"I think the idea of worrying about a delay in PlayStation is slightly strange to me. Every complex technology runs the risk of delays," Stringer said.

"The point really is that PlayStation 3 is already finished and has been tested in America and has been deemed a creative success. In the end that is what counts."

The PS3 is due to launch in the US on November 17, priced at USD 499 for the 20GB model or USD 599 for the 60GB version. ...

Square Enix has signed a distribution deal for the UK, Ireland and other international territories with independent DVD, toys and videogames distributor Trilogy Logistics.

The deal comes as Square Enix prepares to ship the latest in the highly-acclaimed RPG series, Final Fantasy XII, to retailers across Europe.

"The UK market is one of the largest in Europe and we need to ensure we have the correct partners in place to achieve our requirements - Trilogy is able to do this," said Michael Sherlock, senior VP of sales and marketing at Square Enix.

"This agreement is part of Square Enix's initiative to achieve more effective channel management by distributing our own products," he added.

"This contract is a highly important one for us that sees us further establishing a foothold within the videogames' market," said Matthew Allen, MD of Trilogy. ...

With Ridge Racer 7 now less than two weeks away from release in Japan (yes, I am hyperventilating a bit), comments from producer Hideo Teramoto have shed some more light on hard disk usage and single-player/multiplayer separation.

Speaking to Famitsu PS2, in an article partially translated by IGN, Teramoto said that the game would offer a hard-disk install option, allowing you to store 5GB worth of data on the PlayStation 3's internal drive to speed things up.

As for the separation of single- and multiplayer, there won't be any. Instead, Teramoto says, the money and ranks you accumulate will apply both online and offline. As previously revealed, the game offers 14-player online races, just as the 360 version, which Teramoto also worked on, did - with co-op races as well as other modes.

The game's producer also reportedly said he was very chuffed with the technical side of the game, and reckons that its support for 1080p at 60 frames-per-second and 5.1 surround sound can't be matched on other formats. But, you know, don't get too upset about that. There are more important things in the world.

Ridge Racer 7 will be ready for both for the 11th November Japanese launch and the 17th November American launch of PlayStation 3, and features more than 20 tracks (all of which can be played in reverse) available in the Ridge State Grand Prix mode as well as a Global Time Attack offering a la 360, tweaked nitrous systems, and a lot of customisation options. Sony also plans to offer a downloadable Ridge 7 demo at launch. ...

A hands-on preview in UK magazine Edge uncovers several new gameplay gems for the latest Zelda quest, which it deems to be "a fanboy's wet-dream".

As you all should know, the game has a light world and a Twilight realm - areas of Hyrule that have been engulfed in a dark shadow of evil. Apparently, light is returned to Twilight-covered areas of the game by "hunting down shadow insects and collecting the tears of light they've consumed, restoring one of the four great Light Spirits."

The preview discloses interesting details concerning Link's abilities in wolf form. "As a wolf, Link controls almost exactly as he does in human form; every attack has its equivalent. Dashing with the A instigates a burst of speed, and though he cannot access items, D-pad shortcuts allow him to dig and access his senses."

These senses are used to detect digging spots, shadow insects and spirits of Hyrule citizens. These spirits apparently do not engage in conversations with Link, but you can sort of listen to their mutterings, no doubt to gather essential information.

It is already known that Link transforms into a wolf when in the Twilight realm. But Edge interestingly reveals that: "Link can also re-enter the light-world in the form of a wolf. There, people fear him but he can talk to animals."

Link's relationship with animals plays a huge part in many areas of his quest. As well as the return of Link's horse, Epona, who he can summon with a horseshoe-shaped reed, he will also interact with a hawk (again summoned with a reed), which he can launch at meddling monkeys or bees' nests.

Some of the mysteries behind Midna, the strange character riding on Link's back when in wolf form, have also been answered. When teamed with Link, Midna will apparently take on a Navy-style role, offering helpful hints and tips as the player explores. She can also help out with battle, conjuring a force field around Link that can instantly destroy groups of enemies in the Twilight realm that will otherwise revive each other.

Edge also reveals the existence of "a highly unusual character called Ooccoo - a chicken homunculus with a human head - who appears in dungeons, takes residence in your inventory and allows you to warp out and return to exactly the same spot, should you need supplies."

Edge was is full of praise for Twilight Princess. Yes, we're all going to buy it anyway, but that's always encouraging. Will it be better than Ocarina of Time, though. All evidence seems to suggest it might just be... ...

Via CVG

Next year, Lara Croft will be whipping out pistolas and dangling precariously over yawning chasms in latest adventure Tomb Raider: Anniversary.

Following the daring heroine's successful return in Legend, Anniversary finds Croft on the trail of mystical artefact the Scion. The adventure's inspired by the original Tomb Raider game - Eidos senior brand manager Kathryn Clements explains:

"Over the years we have had literally thousands of requests to re-make the original Tomb Raider for today's gamer, we have gone a step further, we have taken the original story and made a completely new version for Tomb Raider: Anniversary. We are re-telling an incredible story using today's technology, we've taken all of the key moments from the original game and put them into the context of a brand new Tomb Raider adventure... "

Tomb Raider: Anniversary's being developed by Crystal Dynamics.

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Nintendo has "no plans" to release DVD-capable Wii outside of Japan

The enhanced Wii console, capable of DVD playback - mentioned in the latest issue of Edge - may never see the light of day outside of Japan.

Talk of the DVD-compatible Wii in Edge has caused a stir on the 'net, despite Nintendo confirming back in September it had no plans to release such a console outside of Japan.

In a statement Nintendo confirmed that "in Europe (and the Americas), we have no plans for a DVD option either internally or as an accessory at this time. DVD players are now sold so cheaply and the penetration rate is so high that we did not think it was worth including [DVD playback] and raising the price of Wii." ...

In November, Oblivion fanatics will be able to get their great, dirty hands on Knights of the Nine, a new update for the RPG epic on PC and Xbox 360. Bethesda's dipped into its media vault and presented us with first screenshots from the expansion.

KotN beefs up Oblivion with a brand new faction which players can join and found their very own order of holy knights. Bethesda's recently revealed that we'll be able to lead an order "into battle against a sorcerer-king and his demonic minions while exploring massive dungeons and searching for legendary relics - the holy armor and weapons of the Divine Crusader."

In addition, the new content features new quests for noble characters and "answers many of the questions surrounding the Ayleid ruins found throughout Oblivion", the developer's explained.

Knights of the Nine will be available via Xbox Live Marketplace for Xbox 360 and www.OblivionDownloads.com for PC on November 21. A Windows boxed retail product is also to be released around the same time that contains KotN along with all downloadable content previously released for Oblivion.

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