December 4th, 2008

The Nintendo DSi is still the best-selling platform in Japan, with its camera-less predecessor similarly selling in the tens of thousands. But Sony's PlayStation 3 saw the biggest gains this week, thanks to Konami.

The developer-publisher's World Soccer Winning Eleven 2009 sold over 168,000 copies in Japan last week, helping to double PS3 hardware sales to nearly 35,000 units. A pretty big improvement from its October lull.

Wii sales were also way up, by more than 14,000 units.

The full hardware sales tally from Nov. 24 to 30 was:

• Nintendo DSi - 87,185
• PSP - 55,090
• Wii - 49,848
• PlayStation 3 - 34,978
• Nintendo DS - 26,851
• Xbox 360 - 11,423
• PlayStation 2 - 5,628



December 4th, 2008

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe boss David Reeves issued a strong "nuh-uh" to his Xbox competition, saying that the PlayStation 3 is still outpacing Microsoft's console in PAL land. By a good 300,000 too!

Reeves tells MCV that, despite Microsoft's claims to the contrary, that Europe is still Sony country. Continent. Whatever. And even though the PlayStation folks are going to be "more aggressive" in 2009, reports of a price drop in Spring of next year are highly exaggerated.

“No we are not going to go down in price; neither are we going to go down in price on PS3 in spring time either," Reeves told MCV. "Absolutely not, whatever you might have heard to the contrary."

Reeves says not to expect its price drop history to repeat itself on the PlayStation 3, reiterating Sony's "value add" strategy and working harder to get to a break even point on its this-gen console.

“We’re relying on the fact that the industry will keep growing and while we might have a comparatively smaller share of the market we will have higher sales," Reeves added, noting that the PS3 is "tracking where PS2 was at the same point in its life."

Sony: We’re ahead of Xbox [MCV]



December 4th, 2008

The next big PlayStation 3 exclusive will be hitting North America early next year, as Killzone 2 has been officially dated for February 27, 2009. Sony announced the launch date on today's episode of X-Play.

The sequel was infamously confirmed at E3 2005 with a pre-rendered teaser trailer, making the wait almost four years long for Guerrilla Games' futuristic first-person shooter. The game has not yet been dated for other territories, but has been privately beta testing over the past quarter.

SCEA managing producer Kyle Shubel revealed the date along with two new weapons during a Killzone 2 preview on G4 earlier today. A clip from that episode can be seen after the break.

'Killzone 2' Release Date: February 27, 2009!! [G4]



December 4th, 2008

Bruce Shelley - the nice man who helped bring you Civilization, Railway Tycoon, Age of Empires and other classics - is to be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall Of Fame.

Shelly got his big break working with Sid Meier at Microprose - culminating in the production of Civilization, which has eaten up so much of my time that I should probably go along to the ceremony at the 2009 D.I.C.E. Summit (February 18th in Las Vegas) and either thank him personally or serve him with a writ.

Does anyone know if there is an actual Hall of Fame - as in an actual building? Do inductees get to hang out there and sip cocktails? All this and less is revealed in the full press release, after the jump.

FROM BOARD GAMES TO VIDEOGAMES; VISIONARY BRUCE SHELLEY TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME OF THE ACADEMY OF INTERACTIVE ARTS & SCIENCES

CALABASAS, Calif. – December 4, 2008 – The Academy of Interactive Arts &
Sciences (AIAS) has announced that Bruce Shelley will be the 12th inductee
into the Academy’s Hall of Fame. Shelley is the preeminent game designer,
who assisted Sid Meier in bringing the award winning Civilization and
Railroad Tycoon to the world, and later the Age of Empires strategy games
with Ensemble Studios. These games are long considered some of the greatest
games of all time.

PC Gamer named Shelley one of the 25 Game Gods in 1999, and in 2002, GameSpy
named him the 8th most influential person in gaming.

The Hall of Fame Award will be presented by Tony Goodman, founder of
Ensemble Studios, at the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards®, hosted
by actor, comedian and avid video game player, Jay Mohr, and will take place
during the 2009 D.I.C.E. Summit on Thursday, February 18, 2009 at the Red
Rock Resort in Las Vegas.

As one of the organization’s highest honors, candidates are annually voted
on by the Academy’s prominent Board of Directors, of which Bruce Shelley
served from 2000-2006. Induction into the Hall of Fame is bestowed upon
individuals who’ve contributed a significant advancement within the industry
while demonstrating proven success and leadership.

Bruce Shelly has been collecting board games his whole life, and estimates
he has over 500. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse
University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
simultaneously, and then studied economics in graduate school at the
University of Virginia. But his interest in games won out over academics.

In 1980, he joined friends from the UVA game club to form a role-playing
game company called Iron Crown Enterprises, acquiring the license to make
games based on The Lord of the Rings. After a brief period at Simulations
Publications in New York, Avalon Hill became his next stop, designing a
variety of games including 1830 and Titan.

In 1988, Shelley made the transition to computer games, joining Microprose.
After working on a variety of projects, including F-19 Stealth Fighter, he
was assigned to work with Sid Meier as his producer/assistant designer. They
collaborated on Railroad Tycoon, Covert Action and Civilization.
Civilization was one of the most important marks in the videogame industry
when it was released in 1991.

In 1995, while freelance writing, having five strategy guides published,
Shelley joined another friend from the UVA game club, Tony Goodman who had
just started Ensemble Studios. Shelley helped the new studio establish its
development processes and principles, and created the hugely successful Age
of Empires series, which to date has sold more than 20 million copies
worldwide. He has traveled the world acting as a spokesman for Ensemble
Studios and its games, and as a guest speaker at numerous conferences.

Tony Goodman states, “Bruce has always been at the center of the gaming
universe. He sprang onto the scene at Avalon Hill and SPI designing board
games that would become the models for modern videogames. He was a central
figure at Microprose working on one of the most defining products of the
industry’s early years, and he was the Godfather of Ensemble Studios
presiding over Age of Empires, which is one of the most influential
franchises of today’s mature videogame industry.

Ensemble Studios, is a Microsoft owned development studio, and has Halo Wars
coming out in 2009.

Shelley will join an elite group of 11 other interactive entertainment
industry luminaries in the AIAS Hall of Fame: Trip Hawkins (Electronic
Arts), Peter Molyneux (Lionhead Studios), Yu Suzuki (Sega), Will Wright
(Maxis), John Carmack (id Software), Hironobu Sakaguchi (Square Enix), Sid
Meier (Firaxis Games), Shigeru Miyamoto (Nintendo), Richard Garriott (origin
Systems), Dan/Danielle Bunten Berry (Ozark Landscape), and Michael Morhaime
(Blizzard Entertainment).

Mr. Shelley humbly states “I am deeply honored to receive this award. I
believe it also honors my colleagues over the years at Microprose and
especially Ensemble Studios, from whom I have learned so much. I am very
grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and hope that in return
I have given something back to this great industry.”

About the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences:
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) was founded in 1996 as a
not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of
the interactive arts. The Academy’s mission is to promote and advance
common interests in the worldwide interactive entertainment community;
recognize outstanding achievements in the interactive arts and sciences; and
conduct an annual awards show (Interactive Achievement Awards) to enhance
awareness of the interactive art form. The Academy also strives to provide
a voice for individuals in the interactive entertainment community.

In 2002, the Academy created the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate,
Entertain) Summit, a once yearly conference dedicated to exploring
approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely
apply to the development of interactive entertainment. The Academy also
oversees Into The Pixel, a juried exhibition of art from games, and this
year started the Randy Pausch Scholarship fund for students in the games
industry. The Academy has more than 15,000 members from the games industry.
Publishers such as Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, as well as
developers Bioware/Pandemic, Day One Studios, Epic Games and Insomniac
Games. More information can be found at http://www.interactive.org and
http://www.dicesummit.org

About the Interactive Achievement Awards:
The Interactive Achievement Awards® are the only peer-based awards that
recognize the year’s best video games, computer games, online entertainment,
outstanding individuals and groundbreaking development teams that have
propelled the advancement of the multi-billion dollar worldwide
entertainment software industry. The awards presented by the AIAS are
determined by a vote of field-specific, qualified Academy members, making
the Interactive Achievement Awards the most sought-after, respected and
credible recognition for creators of entertainment software.



December 4th, 2008

The January issue of EGM spills the beans on the video game adaptation of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Raven Software's actio-adventure starring Marvel's most popular mutant. And 1UP has the first shot of Logan in action.

1UP says we're looking at Wolverine's in-game model, illustrating just how expertly someone at Raven can render a bulging vein. Do make sure to check out the Hugh-mungous hi-res version to see the little details.

What scant details 1UP provides — Sentinel boss fights, ultra-violence, "a new approach to seamless cinematic in-game cut-scenes" — certainly have us interested. Hopefully our upcoming issue of EGM is already well on its way to Kotaku Towers West. Until then, we'll just ogle that single screen.

First Screenshot and Info For X-Men Origins: Wolverine [1UP]



December 4th, 2008

EA will officially announce NHL Arcade tomorrow, a three-on-three hockey game for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, IGN reports. It is not, we repeat not, a re-release of EA's NHL 94 for the Genesis.

Now that you've come to terms with that distressing fact, what is NHL Arcade? It's "lightning-paced, no rules hockey" according to IGN Sports, with "game-changing power-ups" and giant-noggined professional hockey players. And it runs just ten bucks.

True, it may not be NHL 94 HD, but it sounds enough like the under-appreciated NBA Jam-like hockey arcade game NHL Open Ice to have our attention. We'll see how we feel after the official announcement.

Exclusive: EA Developing 3 on 3 NHL Arcade [IGN]



December 4th, 2008

There's plenty to download for your PSP in this week's PlayStation Store update. The real draw, of course, should be the two Soulcalibur IV wallpapers featuring Ivy and Hilde in sexy Santa gear.

Unfortunately, they're both a tad of a letdown, something that won't stop us from downloading the new Soulcalibur IV holiday themed gear. There's also plenty of free stuff this week, from Qore to Sackboy costumes to Age of Booty maps to Naruto packs. For the extensive list, read on.

Qore Episode 07: December, 2008 (free)

Games and Demos
Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer ($9.99)
Everyday Shooter for PSP ($9.99)
Super Stardust Portable for PSP ($9.99)
Archer Maclean's Mercury for PSP ($9.99)
Brain Challenge for PSP ($9.99)

Expansions and Add-ons
LittleBigPlanet Kabuki Actor Costume (free)
Age of Booty Map Pack 1 (free)
Age of Booty Map Pack 2 (free)
Age of Booty Map Pack 3 (free)
GRID 8-Ball Pack ($9.99)
Soulcalibur IV Customization Equipment 3 ($1.99)
Far Cry 2 Fortunes Pack ($9.99)
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Storm Pack 4 (free)

Guitar Hero World Tour tracks
• The Smashing Pumpkins Track Pack ($5.49)
• “1979″ by The Smashing Pumpkins ($1.99)
• “G.L.O.W.” by The Smashing Pumpkins ($1.99)
• “The Everlasting Gaze” by The Smashing Pumpkins ($1.99)

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 tracks
• Don’t You (Forget About Me) ($1.49)
• For You I Will ($1.49)
• Friends in Low Places ($1.49)
• Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door ($1.49)
• Midnight Train To Georgia ($1.49)
• Unwritten ($1.49)

Rock Band tracks
• “Headphones On” by Miranda Cosgrove (free)
• “Real World” by All-American Rejects ($0.99)
• “Ready, Set, Go!” by Tokio Hotel ($0.99)
• “I Don’t Want to Go to School” by Naked Brothers Band ($0.99)
• “Hay Poco Rock N Roll” by Platero y Tu ($0.99)
• “Body I Occupy” by Naked Brothers Band ($0.99)
• “Are You Dead Yet?” by Children of Bodom ($0.99)
• “Tutto E Possibile” by Finley ($0.99)
• “Tempted” by Squeeze ($0.99)

Game Videos
Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer trailer
Prince of Persia Dev Diary 2
Prince of Persia Dev Diary 3
Mercenaries 2 Blow It Up Again trailer
Facebreaker Audition Video #4
Facebreaker Audition Video #5
BAJA: Edge of Control - Launch trailer
Savage Moon trailer
Resistance 2 - Last Hours
Life in LittleBigPlanet: Ep 4
LittleBigPlanet WELCOME TO MY WORLD Video

Wallpapers and Themes
Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer Wallpaper 1
Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer Wallpaper 2
Soulcalibur IV Holiday Hilde Wallpaper
Soulcalibur IV Holiday Ivy Wallpaper
Lingerie Girls Theme ($1.49)
University of Florida Theme ($1.99)
European Highlands Theme ($1.49)
Bloodwork Theme ($1.49)
Atomic Acid Theme ($1.49)
Metal Battalion Maidens Theme ($0.99)



December 4th, 2008

HM Customs (as in Her Majesty's - the Queen hates smuggling) has issued a warning against fake Nintendo DS Lites that can (possibly) cause you physical harm as well as financial.

A big batch of the fake handhelds (the UK is awash with them this Xmas, apparently) were seized in a freight depot raid and were found to have potentially dangerous power supplies. By 'potentially dangerous' they actually mean 'not electrically tested', so its not like they crawl across the room and strangle you in the night but there is a danger of fire or electrocution.

The bigger question for me is - just how fake are they? Do they play DS games? Are they just rebadged Game & Watch? The article says the were bought on 'Asian websites' for around £40, so goodness only knows what you are buying. Are there even any electronics in them?

Bogus Nintendo consoles 'could be killers'



December 4th, 2008

To: Ash
From: Crecente
Re: Yup, Yup Aging Keeps On Truckin'

Man, it's been a dire day for media across the board today. Viacom is in the process of laying off 850 people, or about 7 percent of the company's global staff. CNBC is said to be laying off 80, NBC Universal is cutting people, The Arizona Republic, Gannett's second-biggest people, laid off people and the Rocky Mountain News, Colorado's oldest paper and Scripps Howard's biggest paper, is officially up for sale.

Lots of my friends are losing their jobs, or very worried they're about to this week. I'm starting to feel like the entire country is about to start flicking the lights on and off and turn on the classical music.

What you missed:
Rock Band Going Country? [Update]
Prankster Takes Mario Kart to the Streets of France
NASCAR Kart Racing Wii Adds Much-Needed Falling Boulders To NASCAR
The Death of (Video Game) Criticism
Metal Slug 7 Review: Once More Into The Tank
Tap Tap Transforms from iGame Into iMusic Platform
Midway Cleared Of Psi-Ops Copyright Infringement



December 4th, 2008

Level 5's third puzzle-filled Professor Layton adventure for the Nintendo DS tops the Media Create charts this week, fending off a strong PlayStation 3 newcomer with almost 350,000 copies sold to Japanese gamers.

With more than double the sales of Konami's World Soccer Winning Eleven 2009 for the PS3, Professor Layton and The Final Time Journey begins its own journey to another DS best seller. Last week's software champ, Animal Crossing: City Folk, tumbles to third place as four new PSP debuts enter the top ten. We wave goodbye to Grand Theft Auto IV and see both Wii Music and Wii Sports teetering on the brink of slipping out of top thirty focus.

For the best selling software in Japan, from Nov. 24 to 30, read on, you crazy diamond.

01. Professor Layton and The Final Time Journey (DS) - 347,000 / NEW
02. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2009 (PS3) - 168,000 / NEW
03. Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii) - 109,000 / 414,000
04. Chrono Trigger DS (DS) - 80,000 / 351,000
05. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX: Tag Force 3 (PSP) - 64,000 / NEW
06. Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam (PSP) - 57,000 / 323,000
07. Hoshi no Kirby: Ultra Super Deluxe (DS) - 56,000 / 475,000
08. Kenka Banchou 3: Zenkoku Seiha (PSP) - 54,000 / NEW
09. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PSP) - 46,000 / NEW
10. Higurashi Daybreak Portable (PSP) - 33,000 / NEW

11. Wagamama Fashion Girls Mode (DS)
12. Rhythm Tengoku Gold (DS)
13. Pokémon Platinum (DS)
14. Higurashi no Naku Koro Volume 2 (DS)
15. Saka-Tsuku DS: Touch and Direct (DS)
16. Tamagotchi Kira Kira Omisecchi (DS)
17. Wii Fit (Wii)
18. Patapon 2: Don-Chaka (PSP)
19. Rune Factory Frontier (Wii)
20. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Spec III (PS3)
21. Naruto Shippuuden: Gekitou Ninja Taisen EX 3 (Wii)
22. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
23. The Last Remnant (Xbox 360)
24. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP the Best) (PSP)
25. Tongari Boushi to Mahou no 365 Nichi (DS)
26. Eiyuu Densetsu: Sora no Kiseki Set (PSP)
27. Wii Music (Wii)
28. Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)
29. Way of the Samurai 3 (PS3)
30. Wii Sports (Wii)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]