Excerpts from one of Nintendo's market research questionnaires have appeared on the Internet, providing an indication of the potential pricing structure for downloading classic Nintendo software titles.

The survey, conducted by marketing company Zanthus, focuses on the forthcoming Nintendo Revolution games console, which is set to include functionality for wireless downloads of classic NES, SNES and N64 software, in addition to reading GameCube discs.

Dubbed the 'Virtual Console', Nintendo's plans were initially revealed following the issuing of a technology patent in October 2005. At the time however, scare details on the system were revealed, and a pricing structure for the service continues to generate speculation in the industry.

In June 2005, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata spoke at a business strategy conference in Japan, confirming that the company would not be providing back-catalogue titles free of charge.

Iwata did suggest however, that some titles may be used as a promotional incentive. For example, by offering a free dowload of a classic title with pre-orders of its next-generation iteration.

"We hope to create a system which allows both Nintendo and [third-party publishers] to make a profit by using [software titles] from the past," Iwata stated at the time.

According to the information from a market research questionnaire undertaken by website Classicgamer.com, the company has highlighted three potential pricing structures. The first is a monthly flat-rate subscription charge of USD 14.99, which would allow gamers to access and play any of the available titles from all three retro consoles at any time. By comparison, NES titles were listed at approximately USD 2.99, whilst several N64 titles were listed at a significanty higher USD 19.99.

The questionnaire is, of course, only an indication of the intended pricing structure, and the figures are subject to change at Nintendo's discretion. A statement from Nintendo of America reads:

"Nintendo is considering a variety of options for the virtual console service for our next console, code-named Revolution, although details have not been announced at this time. In our normal course of business, Nintendo conducts consumer research for many of our products with information and imagery that do not represent actual product specifics."

Full disclosure of the company's intentions, both in terms of a launch strategy and its overall pricing structure for the Revolution console and Virtual Console service is expected to be announced at the E3 expo in May 2006. ...

Japanese publisher Tecmo has confirmed its intention to release next-generation software titles on multiple platforms, dispelling any rumours of exclusivity for the Microsoft Xbox 360 console.

Confirmation of the company's PS3 software development came from Tecmo's Yoshimiri Yasuda in an interview with Famitsu, partially translated by IGN. Yasuda said that specific titles would be announced "shortly", and though he declined to offer any further details the news is likely to provide a significant boost for Sony as the company prepares to launch its next-generation machine.

Tecmo is viewed as one of the strongest Japanese supporters of Microsoft's console - some of the original Xbox's best-selling titles, including Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, were created by Tecmo's renowned Team Ninja. Dead or Alive 4 is due for imminent release on the Xbox 360, although it is unknown at this stage whether or not the game will also appear on PS3.

Tecmo has created numerous hit titles for Sony's current PlayStation 2 platform including survival horror franchise Project Zero, the third instalment of which is scheduled for release in February. Several PSP titles are also due for release over the coming months.

The publisher initially announced its intention to produce games for Sony's next-gen machine in August 2005. More details are likely to be announced in the run-up to the E3 expo in May. ...

New Commercial DS Game released:



A remake of the first Resident Evil game with the DS's unique feature set in mind. New traps and battles await as you work your way through the now classic storyline involving Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield and that well-known mansion that introduced the world to Resident Evil back in 1996. Zombies are now smarter and actually work their way around doors as they chase after you. You'll find that there's no solace in a room that you think you've completely freed from zombie infestation. The DS's stylus is being put to use in the remake as well, as you use the touchpad to solve puzzles as well as slash at zombies using the stylus.

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

New PSP Commercial game released and a Streetfighter game at that:



More details here --> http://www.yesasia.com/?/info.php?pro...2&lsaid=219793 ...

Another tid-bit is floating around the Appleverse, possibly pointing to a new video iPod and that new consumer line we rumored earlier. Apparently, in September Apple filed with Hong Kong's Intellectual Property peeps for the "iPod Hi-Fi" with some people saying the Hi-Fi points to a hi-res video iPod with a larger display, while others are saying it refers to the iPod (with video) that they've already released. In June they filed for "iPod Boombox," which sounds a lot like, well, an iPod boombox, doing that boombox thing -- iPod style. The descriptions aren't much help, with the iPod Hi-Fi being put down by apple as anything from a handheld to a computer to a mouse to a network, but it's not like excessive Apple vagueness has ever slowed down the rumor machine before.
http://engadget.com/2006/01/16/apple...ox-trademarks/ ...

Another tid-bit is floating around the Appleverse, possibly pointing to a new video iPod and that new consumer line we rumored earlier. Apparently, in September Apple filed with Hong Kong's Intellectual Property peeps for the "iPod Hi-Fi" with some people saying the Hi-Fi points to a hi-res video iPod with a larger display, while others are saying it refers to the iPod (with video) that they've already released. In June they filed for "iPod Boombox," which sounds a lot like, well, an iPod boombox, doing that boombox thing -- iPod style. The descriptions aren't much help, with the iPod Hi-Fi being put down by apple as anything from a handheld to a computer to a mouse to a network, but it's not like excessive Apple vagueness has ever slowed down the rumor machine before.
http://engadget.com/2006/01/16/apple...ox-trademarks/ ...

fafenstein has ported Laserix 2 to the PSP, heres the info:

Laserix is a flash game created by Jason Storhed, a video game designer student. This game is just 100% fun and perfect transpose to PSP !!!!. I have tried it once and became a big fan! After a couple of days, and few broken PSPs, I finished the 13 levels. Oh no! What am I gonna do !!! I contacted Jason, to ask for more, but he was busy with his exams. So guess what, I decided to create my own levels.

Now you can play 52 levels (incuding the 13 orignals masterpiece) and try to finsih the game. Good Luck and have a blast!!!

Laserix is a laser that should go through all diamonds on the grid. The only way to do it, is to use mirrors, in the right position and adjust them to define the right laser path. Laserix is a real “Chinese puzzle”. There is no need for 3D or video. The game is just fun!!!

Thanks again to Jason, who design the game and let me used the source code to create new levels.

Screenshots and download via comments ...

PSP3d have released a new version of their Web Portal for use with the PSP Web Browser.

Heres the info:

-Features-

All new "Aqua" and "Dark Aqua" look.
Contains 10 applications, including "Address Book", and "System Preferences".
Custom user desktop pictures.
Featuring 15 games such as "Battleship", and "Towers of Hanoi".
Over 65 links ranging from "Email", to "Travel".
Redesigned standard 12 hour digital clock.
Sony PSP™ (PlayStation® Portable) exclusive.
Zero error source code.

Download via comments ...

Squidge let us know he has released a new version of his SNES emulator for the GP2X. Heres whats new



Made the non-scaled mode a little prettier - it’s now centered and you can use a background image
You can now using the L/R buttons to scroll the file selector faster
Filenames are now sorted
Background image for non-scaled mode is in the file ’skin/gamebackground.bmp’. Thanks to HydraLancer for providing the one in the archive.

I think that’s enough for today

Download here --> http://gp2x-emulation.dcemu.co.uk/squidgesnes.shtml ...