via CVG

It looks like we weren't the only ones impressed by Nintendo's Wii at E3. Microsoft and Sony console executives have been spouting praise - kind of - for Nintendo's console, recommending punters buy the system alongside their own next-gen machines.

Microsoft honcho Peter Moore inadvertently sparked the debate, when he made a comment about the pricing of the Playstation 3 compared to its rivals: "Tell me why you would buy a $600 PS3?" Moore asked. "People are going to buy two [consoles.] They're going to buy an Xbox and they're going to buy a Wii... for the price of one PS3."

In an interview with Gamepro, Sony's Phil Harrison agreed with Moore's basic point, though unsurprisingly suggested that the PS3 would make a far better Wii counterpart: "I think Peter Moore is exactly right. I think Nintendo will be the second system consumers purchase after PlayStation 3," he said. "I know what Peter was getting at with his price point issue but he's not comparing apples to oranges. It's clearly a case that PlayStation 3's price is justified by PlayStation 3's value."

Completing the holy trinity of console execs, Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan also joined the debate in an interview with Engadget. When asked if the Wii and Xbox 360 could be complimentary, Kaplan responded: "I think they could be. For a hardcore gamer who really wants a plethora of ways to pick from, someone who really wants to spend a lot of time gaming."

"The hardcore gamers, the gamers that are their customers, they love to play and they will probably want our system and their system," Kaplan added. "I do think the casual gamers that we are expanding into will own only one, and it will be ours."

Considering PS3's, erm, large price point, we reckon only the world's four richest will be able to afford all three next-gen consoles. So make your choice now - which console will go alongside your Wii? ...

Via CVG

Microsoft's external HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360 could hit the UK for under 130 GBP, it's being speculated.

Retail sources claim to have been informed by Microsoft that the cost of the drive combined with the cost of Xbox 360 will still set consumers back less than the cost of Sony's PS3, according to a report on GamesIndustry.biz. A quick bit of maths based on top-end prices (279 GBP for the Xbox 360 premium pack and the 400 GBP, approximately, for the PS3 60Gb model) spits out the sub-130 quid figure for the HD-DVD drive that's being talked about.

It all hangs, of course, on the alleged claims being made by retail sources, and we won't know the full truth until we get an official announcement from Microsoft on the price of the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive. The drive's due out later in the year, so hopefully we shouldn't have too long to wait to discover the dent it'll make in consumer wallets. ...

Via CVG

It isn't within the realms of impossibility that that Ubisoft's PS3 title Assassin's Creed will additionally appear on Xbox 360 and PC, says a slice of gossip knocking around the internet, with at least one report even claiming that it's received confirmation on a 360 iteration straight from the horse's mouth.

Well, yep, we wouldn't exactly be blown backwards off our office chairs in surprise if Ubisoft announced a 360 version of the title - we might wobble a bit if a PC version is confirmed - but, to date, the publisher is keeping lips pretty much sealed on anything beyond PS3 for Assassin's Creed. During conversation earlier with Ubisoft about the possibility of the game appearing on other platforms, a spokesperson told us, "Assassin's Creed is confirmed for PS3 and other formats haven't been confirmed as yet." Make of that what you will.

Assassin's Creed is set in 1191 AD during the time of the Third Crusade and the war in the Holy Land. According to the plot, ruthless assassins intend to halt hostilities via suppression of the powers battling in the conflict. You play a character called Altair and wield the power to "throw their immediate environment into chaos and to shape events during this pivotal moment in history". ...

News Via CVG

Still standing strong at number one this week, EA's latest FIFA update, World Cup Germany 2006, is very pleased to see you, your wallet and make your way to the till humanoid drone, our marketing machine has infiltrated your brain, you are powerless to resist.

Sat like a bloated, rotund wench on a park bench at number two, Lara still grips firmly onto the threads of her illustrious heyday, refusing to shift or move. Meanwhile, at three, there's a sizeable kick up the arse for Championship Manager 2006, rising from the murky depths of number ten.

MULTI-FORMAT TOP 20

1 FIFA WORLD CUP GERMANY 2006
2 TOMB RAIDER: LEGEND CRYSTAL
3 CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 2006
4 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 5
5 THE GODFATHER
6 TOM CLANCY'S GHOST RECON: ADV WARFIGHTER
7 ANIMAL CROSSING: WILD WORLD
8 THE SIMS 2
9 FIFA STREET 2
10 ICE AGE 2: THE MELTDOWN
11 METROID PRIME: HUNTERS
12 THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION
13 BUZZ! THE BIG QUIZ
14 THE MATRIX: PATH OF NEO
15 THE SIMS 2: FAMILY FUN STUFF
16FOOTBALL MANAGER 2006
17 KING KONG: OFFICIAL GAME OF THE MOVIE
18 POKEMON LINK!
19 FIGHT NIGHT ROUND 3
20 MONSTER HUNTER: FREEDOM ...

First off i would like to say a massive thanks to Martin64 for hosting and also being the main reason why the forums and sites run so smooth, one of the best hosts you can get.

We have now upgraded to a newer version of vbulletin with new features galore and better security.

The stats and news feeds look much better and now the latest threads have reply and view numbers for those who love statistics.

We also now have a Members World Map which shows where our members come from in any place of the world, a very cool addition

The next big news is a new feature thats coming to all Network sites and thats a feature where on each site you will see your avatar and any private messages and if you have new ones etc, a damn cool addition to the sites especially if you are a member.

its being beta tested on the PSP News Site in the right hand column at the bottom, once we get the bugs sorted then it will go live.

Now onto the new DCEmu Arcade, a new addition to the forums and network, heres the list of games at this moment in time:

Retro Duck Hunt
Retro Pacman
Advanced Curveball
Tetris
Chopper Challenge
Monkey Cliff Diving
Space Invaders
Helicopter
Asteroids
Snake

Youll need to join the forums but its a small price to pay for such fun and it will be interesting to see who will be the champions

Thats all for now, enjoy the forums and arcade ...

MikeDX posted this news on his site:

"LogiqX has kindly created a dat file for use with rom managers (clrmamepro/romcenter), which I have upload to the forum, so if that kind of thing is useful to you, enjoy

Massive thanks to everybody for the feedback so far. Keep using my site to search for ebay goodies (and digg it where possible) and tell everybody!

I'm looking for people to help me translate into french, spanish, italian and other languages. Also I'm looking for a nice logo and possibly a website (this one) design. Anybody out there interested?

Download and Give Feedback at MikeDX`s Site Here ...

LogiqX has kindly created a dat file for use with rom managers (clrmamepro/romcenter), which I have upload to the forum, so if that kind of thing is useful to you, enjoy

Massive thanks to everybody for the feedback so far. Keep using my site to search for ebay goodies (and digg it where possible) and tell everybody!

I'm looking for people to help me translate into french, spanish, italian and other languages. Also I'm looking for a nice logo and possibly a website (this one) design. Anybody out there interested?

Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

DickyDick1969 a member of our forums has updated his application that allows you to stream movies via Wifi to the PSP, heres whats new in this release:

- complete revamped the socket stuff at the server and client
- removed libcurl
- removed CSocket @^%@#!!!
- added further support for rss
- fixed some bugs with rss

Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

Jsharrad has released an updated version of Miner PSP, heres the info:

MinerPSP v1.1
-----------------

MinerPSP is based on the game Miner VGA released into the public domain by Harrel W. Stiles in 1989.

You control a miner who's objective is to go underground, collect, and sell valuable materials to win the love of Miss Mimi. She likes rich men but
money is not the only thing that will win her heart....

Changes in V1.1
-------------------

Bugfix: Miss Mimi will no longer marry you as soon as you get into the bar.
Bugfix: The screen will no longer scroll without you if you hit a hazard off map.
Fix: Changed the pricing of torches and how long they last. Less $, more light.
Fix: Instructions are a little more helpful now, use d-pad right to scroll pages.
Fix: Slightly lowered hazard spawn rate and increased mineral spawn rate.
New: Sound.
New: You can now have up to 6 saved games instead of just 1. ***
New: Clover added! Always in first 1000ft. It is said to give the luck of the Irish.
New: Search the area button. Press Cross while underground to check the area out.
Doing this uses more of your torch/lantern though.

***Previous saves should work with this new system, the data was changed a little bit
but the ones I tested were compatible. You need to enter the saves directory and
rename your miner.sav to miner0.sav for it to show on the list.

Controls
----------
Start---------------------Main menu / Close menu / Cancel Save & Load
Cross--------------------Select menu item while menu open
Cross--------------------Search area while underground
D-Pad--------------------Move miner
D-Pad Up----------------Enter building
Hold R + Up/Down------Elevator up/down 100ft
Hold Circle---------------Inventory window
Hold Triangle + --Drill granite at
Hold Square + ---Bail water at
Hold L + press R--------Use dynamite (requires a torch)
Select--------------------Take a screenshot

TIPS:
-------

There is only one clover, don't lose it. Buy a drill as soon as economically possible, you could get trapped by caveins with no way out otherwise.

Buy a bucket as soon as economically possible, you could get trapped by water springs with no way out otherwise. You will always try to run back toward the elevator when setting off dynamite, a clear path helps you get out of the blast radius.

You can walk faster in town by holding down the d-pad than in the dangerous mine. Light sources allow you to see minerals & hazards easier.

Digging tools reduce your mining costs. Woody's surgical blade is known to give miners a temporary boost in hitpoints at a cost. Many rumors are to be heard in the saloon.

Download and Give Feedback ...