Monthly Archives: January 2009

The new Wii Play version’s up top of the Japanese chart this week, and PlayStation platforms are still well represented in the top ten, taking four places away from Nintendo hardware.

Looks as though we’ve missed a week here. Charts from the first week of January here. Info from ChartGet.

01. [WII] Wii Play: Mario Tennis (Nintendo) 56,000 / NEW
02. [NDS] Megami Ibunroku: Devil Survivor (Atlas) 55,000 / NEW
03. [PS3] Naruto: Narutimate Storm (Namco Bandai) 44,000 / NEW
04. [PSP] Dissidia Final Fantasy (Square Enix) 29,000 /
05. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 27,000 /
06. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo) 25,000 /
07. [PS3] Fallout 3 (Bethesda Softworks) 24,000 /
08. [NDS] Wagamama Fashion: Girl’s Mode (Nintendo) 22,000 /
09. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) 22,000 /
10. [NDS] DS Uranai Seikatsu (Nintendo) 20,000 /

According to this Reuters story, Arsenal’s to allow players watching games live on its terraces to see instant action replays via PSP.

The football club’s commercial director, Adrian Ford, said a Sony-developed app would allow fans to watch live streaming video of a game, along with data and statistics, and give the ability to watch near-instant replays.

The personalised system had been tested and could be rolled within 18 months.

That’s not the best bit. Sony’s also talking about live, in-game communities.

“This device will brings an extra dimension to the game with information and statistics,” said Sony Europe retail boss Eric Siereveld.

“But we think that the next generation of the software that runs it could actually link fans during the game with each other.”

Up the reds, etc.

The official Final Fantasy XIII site‘s got a timer on it. This is probably a cue to get excited.

Apparently, “The countdown has begun. A new vision will soon be revealed to the world. Register now to ensure you’re there for the unveiling.”

No one knows what’s going to happen, but you’ve got less than seven days to wait. And there’s lots of European language flags up at the top of the page, so cross absolutely everything you’ve got for a PAL release date.

Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford has applied for a “Metal God” game trademark. Seriously. Here’s the proof.

The Brit has been dubbed “Rock God” by the metal trade thanks to a four-and-a-half octave vocal range. Everyone needs a hobby.

Thanks, superannuation.

Lord of the Rings: Conquest demo’s been downloaded more than 1 million times from Xbox Live and PSN, EA’s announced.

The taster apparently debuted as the top demo on Live, ending a nine-week run from World at War.

The Pandemic-developed game released earlier this month.

EA marketing boss Stuart Lang and Peter Moore have told MCV that EA Sports Tennis is going to be a “big hitter” later this year. They didn’t actually say that, but it was too easy, frankly.

“We’re particularly excited about the prospect of bringing EA Sports Tennis to the Wii in 2009 – there’s huge potential there,” said Lang.

“Obviously working with a recognisable brand or licence gives you a head-start in capturing consumer attention, but we believe there’s also scope to break new IP. That focus and commitment will also be channelled into breaking EA Sports Active as an essential fitness product for the Wii.”

No date’s been given for the game as yet.

Moore added: “As we look to expand the EA Sports brand and captivate sports fans from around the world with rich new interactive exeriences, it was obvious that the renaissance we’re seeing in the sport tennis provides us with a big opportunity.

“Our new tennis franchise, coming first to the wii, will put fans right in the action and provide the entertainment, tension and drama that true champions feel in legendary matches.”

Drama. More through there.

The is life after Ziff Davis. A bunch of the old staff from the 1UP Show have launched Co-Op, a new program with a distinctly 1UPy feel. Watch the first episode here.

The newly-formed production company behind it, Area 5, can be found here. Ex EGM ed Dan Hsu looks to be leading the charge.

Apparently Area 5′s received so many fan donations its PayPal account’s been frozen. That’s popularity for you.

Free-to-play DICE shooter Battlefield Heroes is finally showing signs of edging closer to launch, with news today that sign-ups for another closed beta are open.

The game’s been delayed more often than a Japanese royal heir, being originally planned for a summer 2008 launch.

It was pushed into 2009 in November, with back-end work cited as the problem.

Get signed up. It is, after all, free.

Surprising precisely no one, Famitsu figures have shown Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G was the most-bought game in Japan last year, with 2,452,111 copies of Capcom’s PSP adventure moved.

Eight out of the top ten games for the year were first-party Nintendo products, the only other third-party publisher game making the big leagues being Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride from Square at 1,176,082 units sold.

Get the full top 100 after the break, courtesy of NeoGAF.

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Sony has just confirmed that Killzone 2 will be released in the UK on February 27th, the same day as the US.

“You’ve known for a while now but here is official confirmation – Killzone 2 will launch in the UK on February 27th,” a Sony rep has just informed us.

Just yesterday, Sony announced a Killzone 2 bundle for the UK and Europe. Sony has also just confirmed that this too will be available on the 27th.

“Yes same day!” said the rep.

Awesome, says we.

Update: Wondering about the demo? Sony has just told us that there are “no demo details yet”. Sorry about that.

By Mike Bowden

American Xbox Live users can now watch the full inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, on Xbox Live.

Just head to the Spotlight area on your dashboard where you can download it for free.

Thanks, Joystiq.

By Mike Bowden

The Escapist and Valve’s Robin Walker informs us that Tea Fortress 2 is to get a “new Payload map” and a brand new game mode.

“A new Payload map is in the works, more community maps are on the way and the team will soon unveil a very different new game mode,” said Walker.

There are new classes mooted too.

“We’ve got several new class designs floating around, some of which we like a lot, but right now we’re focusing on the broadening of our existing classes through the addition of the unlockables,” said Walker.

More through the link.

By Mike Bowden

Capcom has announced that is has signed a development with UK developer Monumental Games.

The agreement stipulates that Monumental is to develop an as-of-yet-announced multiplatform title.

“Monumental Games was founded in 2005 by Rik Alexander and Rocco Loscalzo and has two UK based offices in Nottingham and Manchester as well as an operation in Pune, India and currently employs over 100 people.”

By Mike Bowden

SCEA has released a fact sheet this morning detailing its forthcoming PSN title, Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic.

Billed as a “party-fighting game based on an original title by the creator of LittleBigPlanet”, and developed by Tarsier Studios, Rag Doll is “a fast-paced combat game with an imaginative look and feel,” says the release.

Your success will depends on whether you get to grips with the basic Kung Fu moves [naturally - Ed.] which builds up Chi Power. Chi Power can be conjured to perform “spectacular SIXAXIS wireless controller-triggered special attack moves and combat sequences.”

Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic is still TBA.

Full fact sheet below.

By Mike Bowden

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Gama has gotten hold of some NPD software sales data showing that Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet sold 611k units whilst Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 4 crept past the million mark: 1.076m to be precise.

Resistance 2 sold 598k whilst Tomb Raider Underworld only sold 246,000 copies on three platforms – no wonder Eidos lowered its fiscal expectations.

Lots more through the link.

By Mike Bowden

Rockstar have revealed the achievements for GTA IV 360 DLC, The Lost and Damned, due for release next month.

There are 250 extra gamerscore points up for grabs but we won’t spoil what they are, you can do that yourself here.

We’ve also been treated to a new screenshot from the expansion pack which is the headline image of this article. However, if that’s too small for you, see it massive here.

By Mike Bowden

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. lead designer Thomas Simon told MTV that although the team respects Namco’s Ace Combat, they feel the gameplay is too closed and promise the H.A.W.X. will rectify that.

“What ‘Ace Combat’ did to the air combat genre is really great,” Simon said. “They [Namco Bandai] really set the basics of that [genre].

“But we felt, in general, it was a bit closed…the frame was too tight and people are getting used to that; we wanted to refresh it a bit, so we opened it via new gameplay features.”

In order to do that, Simon reckons you need to feel part of the world you’re flying around in:

“We wanted to put it in the real world, so you’re not fighting in places that have no emotion,” he explained. “If I’m fighting above Washington, it means something more to me. That was a real choice.”

Ubisoft announced today that Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. is to be released for PC, 360 and PS3 in March.

By Mike Bowden

During a raid on illegal counterfeiters operating on auction site EBay, police seized 40 consoles making this the first time fake consoles have been found in the UK.

Investigators from Bromley Trading Standards Department and the local enforcement the consoles packaged with power units as well as game copying devices.

On top of all that they found 150 moody games for the DS and Game Boy Advance.

Michael Rawlinson, managing director of ELSPA, said: “The replication of video games software and hardware is illegal and has a negative impact on both local and national businesses.

“ELSPA would like to thank the thorough and professional investigation by Bromley Trading Standards department and local Police whose work with our investigators has stopped the illegal activities of yet another internet pirate.”

Lesson: If you can’t take a joke, don’t sell dodgy products on the internet.

By Mike Bowden

After telling videogaming247 that the box art doesn’t lie, Capcom has just got in touch to tell us that actually, yes it does.

“Turns out our pack art was wrong!” said a senior company rep to VG247 just now.

So in a nutshell: the box art showing the possibility of 2-16 player offline multiplayer is wrong.

Until Capcom tells us otherwise, of course.

By Mike Bowden

EA has announced the results of a survey conducted by University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center which show that Madden NFL players’ football IQ was 60 percent higher than non-players.

The study tested the general American football knowledge of 15,000 Madden 09 players against your average non-Madden playing NFL fan. The results spoke for themselves.

“For 20 years, EA Sports has been committed to delivering a truly authentic football experience with the Madden NFL franchise,” said EA Sports president Peter Moore.

“The findings of the Football IQ study demonstrate the authenticity of the game and how much smarter gamers have become about the sport because of it. It also represents the impact this iconic game has had on the way football is played and experienced, both by players and fans.”

Madden NFL sold 5.25m copies in the US last year putting the American Football title in second place being Wii Play in the all format charts.

Full thing after the break.

By Mike Bowden

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