In Japan, Capcom has begun distribution of Monster Hunter i for 3G's FOMA mobile phone series 900i and 902i. The strictly single-player game doesn't feature a multi-player mode, but it still features 3D graphics. Like the PlayStation 2 and PSP versions, Monster Hunter for mobile phones lets gamers go on quests in a world filled with dinosaurs and other monsters. Capcom will also be releasing various Monster Hunter media for phones, such as wallpapers and ring tones. In related news, Capcom has also announced that Monster Hunter 2 for the PlayStation 2 has gone gold.

Via Gamespot ...

In Japan, Capcom has begun distribution of Monster Hunter i for 3G's FOMA mobile phone series 900i and 902i. The strictly single-player game doesn't feature a multi-player mode, but it still features 3D graphics. Like the PlayStation 2 and PSP versions, Monster Hunter for mobile phones lets gamers go on quests in a world filled with dinosaurs and other monsters. Capcom will also be releasing various Monster Hunter media for phones, such as wallpapers and ring tones. In related news, Capcom has also announced that Monster Hunter 2 for the PlayStation 2 has gone gold.

Via Gamespot ...

In Japan, Capcom has begun distribution of Monster Hunter i for 3G's FOMA mobile phone series 900i and 902i. The strictly single-player game doesn't feature a multi-player mode, but it still features 3D graphics. Like the PlayStation 2 and PSP versions, Monster Hunter for mobile phones lets gamers go on quests in a world filled with dinosaurs and other monsters. Capcom will also be releasing various Monster Hunter media for phones, such as wallpapers and ring tones. In related news, Capcom has also announced that Monster Hunter 2 for the PlayStation 2 has gone gold.

Via Gamespot ...

After reporting disappointing 2005 holiday earnings today, Activision executives held a conference call to talk about their plans for the future. As the company cited the ongoing transition from current-generation platforms to next-generation consoles as a major factor for its lower-than-expected profits, executives were eager to tell the Wall Street analysts participating in the call about their plans for the new crop of machines.

In its 2007 fiscal year, which runs from April 2006 to March 2007, Activision will "remain committed to maintaining a leadership position on next-generation platforms," said Activision publishing president and CEO Michael Griffith. Griffith said that, during those 12 months, his company plans to release five PSP titles and four Xbox 360 titles--one of which will be the just-announced multiplatform X-Men: The Official Movie Game (working title). More importantly, he revealed that Activision is planning to ship three PlayStation 3 launch titles and one Revolution launch title during that period. The revelation is further confirmation that both consoles will almost certainly launch by year's end, most likely in November.

Though Activision didn't name its PS3 and Revolution titles, it's likely that they will be based on existing properties. Stung by the less-than-stellar reception of its all-new IP Gun, which Griffith admitted "performed below our expectations," the publisher said that "fiscal 2007 will be a year of caution and investment as we manage through the remainder of the transition and focus resources to prepare for accelerated growth in the next cycle." In other words, the publisher will be relying on ots stable of tried-and-true franchises, which includes Call of Duty and Quake.

Ironically, Activision did identify some of the games set for release during its 2008 fiscal year (April 2007-March 2008). Those will include tie-ins for the films Shrek 3 and Spider-Man 3, as well as new titles based on the adventures of skater extraordinaire Tony Hawk and the X-Men comics and films. No specific platforms were mentioned, but given the fact that all next-generation consoles will have been on the market for months, it is almost certain the four franchises will be appearing on either the PS3, Revolution, or Xbox 360--or all three. ...

After reporting disappointing 2005 holiday earnings today, Activision executives held a conference call to talk about their plans for the future. As the company cited the ongoing transition from current-generation platforms to next-generation consoles as a major factor for its lower-than-expected profits, executives were eager to tell the Wall Street analysts participating in the call about their plans for the new crop of machines.

In its 2007 fiscal year, which runs from April 2006 to March 2007, Activision will "remain committed to maintaining a leadership position on next-generation platforms," said Activision publishing president and CEO Michael Griffith. Griffith said that, during those 12 months, his company plans to release five PSP titles and four Xbox 360 titles--one of which will be the just-announced multiplatform X-Men: The Official Movie Game (working title). More importantly, he revealed that Activision is planning to ship three PlayStation 3 launch titles and one Revolution launch title during that period. The revelation is further confirmation that both consoles will almost certainly launch by year's end, most likely in November.

Though Activision didn't name its PS3 and Revolution titles, it's likely that they will be based on existing properties. Stung by the less-than-stellar reception of its all-new IP Gun, which Griffith admitted "performed below our expectations," the publisher said that "fiscal 2007 will be a year of caution and investment as we manage through the remainder of the transition and focus resources to prepare for accelerated growth in the next cycle." In other words, the publisher will be relying on ots stable of tried-and-true franchises, which includes Call of Duty and Quake.

Ironically, Activision did identify some of the games set for release during its 2008 fiscal year (April 2007-March 2008). Those will include tie-ins for the films Shrek 3 and Spider-Man 3, as well as new titles based on the adventures of skater extraordinaire Tony Hawk and the X-Men comics and films. No specific platforms were mentioned, but given the fact that all next-generation consoles will have been on the market for months, it is almost certain the four franchises will be appearing on either the PS3, Revolution, or Xbox 360--or all three. ...

Nokia today unveils Atari Masterpieces Volume 2, the latest catalogue of classic Atari arcade games for the N-Gage platform.

Atari Masterpieces Volume 2 brings eight of the most popular original Atari arcade-games to the N-Gage world, including Asteroids Deluxe, Crystal Castles, Centipede, Liberator, Pong, Space Duel, Tempest and Warlords. Additional features include four bonus unlockable Atari 2600 titles, including 2600 Air-Sea Battle, 2600 Canyon Bomber, 2600 Mini-Golf and 2600 Video Checkers.

"We've teamed up with Backbone Entertainment, creators of RIFTS®: Promise of Power TM and Shadow-Born to create Atari Masterpieces Volume 2, the second heritage-rich Atari games compilation compiled for the N-Gage – the gamers phone ," said Gregg Sauter, Director, Games Publishing, Nokia. "These games play virtually identically to the originals, but with an N-Gage twist; gamers can upload their high-score onto the N-Gage Arena for new century bragging rights and, as an added bonus, two people can play on one N-Gage together, using the Hot Seat function."

Atari Masterpieces Volume 2 for the N-Gage will start shipping in March 2006.

About the games:

Asteroids Deluxe: The sequel to Asteroids in 1981. Asteroids Deluxe added new enemies and a powerful shield button, when players experienced difficulties.

Centipede: Centipede pitted players against a never ending barrage of spiders, fleas, scorpions and of course, centipedes as they tried to fill the screen with mushrooms. The game's fast paced action made it an instant classic.

Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles was one of the most beautiful and puzzling games ever made. Players took control of Bentley Bear as he explored mazes, trying to collect gems without being caught by his enemies.

Liberator: Liberator is one of the rarer arcade games in the Atari line-up - fewer than 800 arcade cabinets were produced. The game has been described as Missile Command® in reverse!

Pong: The game that started it all. Legend goes that the original prototype of the game was tested in a tavern in Sunnyvale, California, and used a bread pan as its coin collector.

Space Duel: The only multi-player vector game ever released by Atari - Space Duel first hit arcades in early 1982. Its mix of fast action, Asteroids style play and bright colors quickly made it a cult hit.

Tempest: Tempest was one of the most abstract, but addictive games to ever hit the arcade. Originally trying to build a 3D version of another common Arcade game, it took a bad dream to deliver the idea of plummeting down into the levels instead of the other way around.

Warlords: Warlords first hit arcades in 1980 and launched a multi-player revolution. Warlords allowed players to catch a flaming ball and sling it at the castles of their foes. ...

Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime has announced that there's still plenty of surprises in store as far as the Revolution is concerned, adding that nothing is likely to be revealed before this year's E3.

Speaking to US magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly, Fils-Aime said: "Come [May], we'll disclose a lot more. After, we'll disclose even more, and right about the time of the launch, we'll disclose even more... I'm talking beyond the controller, the virtual console; all the different elements we'll be sharing all the way up to launch."

When asked whether the Revolution might make use of an EyeToy-type peripheral or a microphone, Fils-Aime said we "could certainly see all of that."

"Again, our orientation is, how do we push the gaming experience, the interplay between the player and the game? So all of the different elements that enhance that capability's use of a camera, use of the microphone, voice activation; all of that, certainly I believe, is fair game."

Fils-Aime went on to say that the Revolution's online network is likely to work in the same way as the DS's Wi-Fi Connection service, reiterating Nintendo's intention to create "an environment that is more friend and peer-to-peer based, versus simply, 'I wanna go take on everybody for certain types of games.'"

He did not rule out the possibility of a virtual console system that lets gamers download older Nintendo games and play them on a DS, saying: "We certainly never say never."

"My concern would be, how do you embed that on a DS [cartridge] in addition to the game to really make it effective? But we've said from the start that Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is meant to be the service both for the DS as well as the Revolution. So could you see a merging of that technology at some point in the future? Certainly possible." ...

The English High Court has ordered Gizmondo Europe to be liquidated, according to The Register. Looks like parent company Tiger Telematics' funding plans haven't gone according as they'd hoped, and it may have to sell off its Gizmondo USA operation." From the article: "Tiger said it was considering its own future in the light of the High Court verdict, and of the liquidation of its game studios in Sweden and Manchester, England. For starters, it's now able to eliminate $72m of the $90m liabilities recorded on its balance sheet as of 30 September 2005. It said it was pondering the sale of the whole company, parts of it, or elements of the intellectual property it owns, 'including patents and game rights, and continuing operations in the USA'. ...

News from Lik Sang:

Straight from the shores of Japan, in stock now we have the latest issue of the best-selling DVD videogame magazine, Famitsu Wave DVD. The first of two discs kicks off with Capcom's very artistic PS2 action title, Okami. Using hand-brushed calligraphy style graphics and based on Japanese mythology, this is truly like nothing else you've ever laid eyes on before. Then the good stuff continues with Romancing SaGa, Monster Hunter 2, Rumble Roses XX, Tengai Makyou Ziria Harkuanaru Jipang, Ace Combat Zero The Belkan War, Phantasy Star Universe and much more.

Moving onto the second disc, there's Square Enix's upcoming epic RPG for the NDS, Children of Mana, then Kimi Kiss, Sonic Riders, Siren 2, Ryuga Gotoku, Final Fantasy XI and many more! No doubt both discs are packed with the traditional Famitsu wackiness too, the type you only get from Japan. The monthly Famitsu Wave DVD consists of a high gloss magazine and an Amaray DVD box, and isn't just a magazine with a DVD attached. The March issue is in stock and shipping now, but we're also taking pre-orders for the April 2006 issue, due March 1st. ...