Last year, analysts firm DFC Intelligence predicted that sales from software would hit $26 billion by 2008. Today, the firm is throwing all things gaming--software, hardware, online revenue--into its latest forecast that looks at the business even further down the line. DFC prognosticates that the gaming industry will be worth $44 billion by 2011, up from an estimated $29 million last year.

The majority of the dough is obviously set to come from Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360, and Nintendo's Wii, but DFC analyst David Cole still thinks the next-gen crown is up for grabs.

"Uncertainty is truly the keyword going forward," said Cole. "Three solid video game systems are competing for market share and it will probably be two to three years before a true leader is determined."

Cole believes that software sales from the three platforms will account for about a third of worldwide sales in the industry, with no platform singled out as a clear leader like the PlayStation 2 was in the current-gen war. He also believes that the competition between the three competing consoles, a burgeoning portable sector, and the rising popularity of online games "is the key to success" for the industry. ...

Namco Bandai Games America today announced that it will publish Digimon World DS in the US this fall. The game was previously released in Japan under the name Digimon Story in June.

Based on Bandai's popular Digmon property, the game will see players interacting with more than 230 of the digital monsters on their DSes. By creating Digi-Farms, gamers can train, care for, and communicate with their Digimons.

Using the handheld's networking capabilities, trainers will be able to take their Digimons online, over Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, or over a local area network, and battle other player-owned Digimons or opt for a more amorous encounter and create new breeds of Digimon.

Digimon World DS has not yet been rated or priced. ...

News via Gamespot

Lego Star Wars II exerted a Sith-like grip on the Australian game charts in its first week of release, with LucasArts' and Traveller Tales' latest taking up three of the top 10 positions in the overall sales charts, according to data trackers GfK Australia.

Lego Star Wars II for the PlayStation 2 was Australia's best-selling game for the week of September 11 to 17, with the game's Xbox and Xbox 360 versions landing in the fourth and eighth positions, respectively. The game was also a prominent feature in most other console-specific top 10 charts.

Xbox 360-exclusive Dead Rising had to settle for second place on the overall charts in its debut week, although it did manage to beat the Star Wars juggernaut in the Xbox 360-specific charts. Saints Row continues to be a strong seller in Australia, landing in third spot this week, after being number one in the previous two.

Full figures, including console-by-console breakdowns, can be found below.

Top 10 Full-Priced Games
1. Lego Star Wars II, PS2
2. Dead Rising, Xbox 360
3. Saints Row, Xbox 360
4. Lego Star Wars II, Xbox
5. New Super Mario Bros., Nintendo DS
6. AFL Premiership 2006, PS2
7. SingStar Anthems bundle, PS2
8. Lego Star Wars II, Xbox 360
9. Cars, PS2
10. EyeToy: Play 3 pack, PS2


Top 10 Game Boy Advance Games (over AU$40)
1. Lego Star Wars II
2. Pokemon Emerald
3. Cars
4. Pokemon Ruby
5. Pokemon Sapphire
6. Pokemon Leaf Green
7. Simpson's Road Rage
8. Donkey Kong Country 3
9. Pokemon Fire Red
10. Star Wars Trilogy: Apprentice of the Force


Top 10 GameCube Games (over AU$50)
1. Super Smash Bros.: Melee
2. Pokemon xD: Gale of Darkness
3. Mario Party 7
4. Super Mario Sunshine
5. Mario Smash Football
6: Paper Mario: 1000 Year Door
7. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
8. NFS: Most Wanted
9. Resident Evil 4
10. Cars


Top 10 PC Games (over AU$20)
1. The Sims 2: Glamour Life Stuff
2. World of Warcraft
3. The Sims 2: Open Business
4. The Sims 2
5. Lego Star Wars II
6. The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff
7. The Sims Deluxe
8. Age of Empires III
9. The Sims 2: Nightlife
10: Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II


Top 10 Nintendo DS Games (over AU$40)
1. New Super Mario Bros.
2. Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training
3. Nintendogs Chihuahua
4. Lego Star Wars II
5. Mario Kart
6. Tamagotchi Connection
7. Cars
8. Animal Crossing: Wild World
9. Big Brain Academy
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest


Top 10 PS2 Games (over AU$50)
1. Lego Star Wars II
2. AFL Premiership 2006
3. SingStar Anthems Bundle
4. Cars
5. EyeToy: Play 3
6. Buzz: The Big Quiz Bundle
7. GameTrak Real World Golf
8. SingStar Rocks! Bundle
9. NFS: Most Wanted
10. FIFA 2006 Platinum


Top 10 PSP games (over AU$40)
1. Tekken Dark Resurrection
2. Gangs of London
3. Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
4. GTA: Liberty Cities
5. Loco Roco
6. WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 06
7. NFS: Most Wanted
8. Lemmings
9. NBA Live 2006
10. Crash Tag Team Racing


Top 10 Xbox Games (over AU$50)
1. Lego Star Wars II
2. NRL Rugby League 2
3. Cars
4. Black
5. NFS: Most Wanted
6. V8 Supercars 3
7. FIFA 2006
8. Over the Hedge
9. 50 Cent Bulletproof
10. Madden NFL 2007


Top 10 Xbox 360 Games (over AU$50)
1. Dead Rising
2. Saints Row
3. Lego Star Wars II
4. Call of Duty 2
5. Enchanted Arms
6. Madden NFL 2007
7. Perfect Dark Zero
8. Project Gotham Racing 3
9. Dead or Alive 4
10. Genuine Wireless Fun Pack (compilation) ...

While North America gloats over its milion-unit launch, Nintendo Australia has refused to disclose how many Wiis it will be bringing into the country for its December launch and has not ruled out the possibility of shortages come launch day.

Nintendo Australia spokesman Vispi Bhopti says that while the company is bringing in a significant number of consoles for the Australian launch on December 7, it cannot guarantee "total supply."

"We will be guaranteeing preordered stock at retail--so that's definitely the way to go to secure it because we can't guarantee total supply because we don't know how many consumers are going to go wild over this," Bhopti said. "We are bringing in a significant number of Wiis into Australia--it won't be a small drop. But at the same time, our expectations are so big for this product that we would, to err on the safe side, recommend that people preorder."

Australian gamers had to suffer through a next-generation console shortage earlier this year when the Xbox 360 launched in March. Within days of the official launch, 20GB Xbox 360 bundles had all but sold out across the country.

Nintendo announced last week that the Wii would hit Australian shores on December 7 for A$399.95. Bhopti said pricing for games, accessories, and virtual console titles was still being finalised for Australia, although they would be "relative to overseas pricing." In the US, first-party Wii titles will retail for $50 (A$66.50).

Bhopti said that while the number of launch-day titles was also still being finalised, he did confirm that Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess would be a launch title locally. The GameCube version of the game would arrive in early 2007, he said.

And for those still holding out hope that the Wii will be a region-free console, Bhopti has some bad news. "You won't be able to play overseas games on an Australian unit," he added.

Bhopti says Nintendo is gearing up national road shows to promote the Wii in the weeks leading to launch. The shows will be similar to its recent DS Connection Tour, which had Nintendo visit major shopping centres around the country. Consumers will be able to get their hands on the Wii and its unique controllers during these shows, Bhopti said.

The Wii's use of wireless controllers means free-standing in-store demo units, however, will not be part of the promotional campaign, Bhopti says.

"We can bolt things down as much as we want, but when we do that it ruins the experience of the wireless controller. You really don't want to pick up that wireless controller unless it really is wireless," Bhopti said.

"Some of these experiences are also quite unique, and we want to be able to explain the experiences to people when we're there. So it's important that when we do have in-store units, they will be manned demonstrations." ...

Immersion Corporation, who you may recall from their rumble-controller suit against Sony, has released a study. Engadget reports that (somewhat unsurprisingly), it indicates gamers will miss the rumble feature in PS3. The 'SIXAXIS' gamepads planned for the PS3 will only have the 'tilt' feature, as far as is known so far. From the article:
"Not only does the (completely unbiased) poll report that 72% of the 1,075 respondents agree vibration feedback enhances their game experience, it goes on to note that 59% of those surveyed would prefer rumble on the PS3 controller, while only 8% care about motion / tilt sensing (sorry, Nintendo). As if these numbers didn't paint a clear enough picture of the message Immersion is trying to convey, two further questions spell it out even more explicitly: when asked if the lack of rumble capabilities would affect their buying decisions ... 5% said that it would definitely cause them not to buy a PS3 and 32% claimed that they were less likely to pick one up for this reason and this reason alone. " ...

Sega Europe has confirmed that the PlayStation 3 version of its popular sports title Virtua Tennis 3 does not have any online features.



The news follows developer Neversoft's recent clarification that the PS3 version of upcoming extreme sports game Tony Hawk's Project 8 for Activision will not feature online play.



"Virtua Tennis 3 PS3 does not have an online mode confirmed at this time," said a statement from Sega.



The lack of online play raises questions regarding Sony's online service for its new home console.



The company last week revealed a range of online features for the PS3, including downloadable content and the ability to play emulated PSone and PS2 titles over the internet.

Sony also discussed the Global Mapping System, which allows users to upload photographs and data about their location and create a detailed view of the world around them - in the hope that consumers can help developers gather information for future game developments.

But with titles from key publishers such as Sega and Activision dropping online features for the PS3, Sony is handing a distinct advantage to Microsoft, in a next-generation battle where online play is becoming an essential - and standard - offering.

Virtua Tennis 3 is due for release in spring 2007 for the Xbox 360, PS3, PSP and PC. ...

Sales of Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy may have dropped by 49 per cent, but the cute sci-fi makeover continues to hold the number one spot in the Chart Track All Formats Chart for the second week.

Eidos' new IP for the Xbox 360 makes a strong debut at number two, as Just Cause becomes the latest in a new line of properties to establish itself on Microsoft's next-generation console.

Two favourite sporting franchises also break the top five, with Electronic Arts' Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 entering at number three and Codemasters' LMA Manager 2007 at number four.

THQ's movie tie-in Cars is nudged down one place to the number five position, while DS exclusive Dr Kawashima's Brain Training holds fast at number six.

Capcom's Dead Rising and THQ's Saints Row have been pushed down the charts after initially strong debuts, sitting at the number seven and eight positions, respectively.

EA's The Godfather has climbed dramtical up the charts from number 24 to number 9 after the release of the PSP and Xbox 360 versions of the title, while New Super Mario Bros. just hangs in at ten.

Microsoft's recent Xbox 360 bundle for retail which includes Project Gotham Racing 3, has helped the title re-enter the charts at number 26.

News via Gamesindustry ...

Rockstar has signed a deal with Getaway creator Brendan McNamara's Team Bondi to publish next-generation crime thriller L.A. Noire.

Neither company's talking about specific formats just yet, but the game had previously been in development for PlayStation 3.

"Brendan and I have known each other for a long time, and to finally have the opportunity to work together on a game is exciting," said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games.

Originally announced in January 2004, the game's been quietly taking the shape of an interactive detective story set in the noir period of the late '40s.

It promises a blend of action, detection and complex storytelling as part of an open-ended challenge to solve a series of gruesome murders in Los Angeles.

"The longstanding mutual respect and the combined experience between the two of us make this a great partnership," added Brendan McNamara, CEO of Team Bondi. ...

New PS2 Game release:



This new episode in the Pop's Music series features 15 new songs and 100 playable songs in total that are taken from anime series, drama series and games. The game overall design has also been reworked to make the player feel the heat and joy of the carnival.

More info -> http://www.yesasia.com/?/info.php?pro...4&lsaid=219793 ...