Nintendo DS UK bargain Legend of Zelda - Phantom Hourglass £14.99 delivered

Bought this from Choices UK ...

RRP £29.99 save £15.00
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The epic story of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker continues as Link finds himself lost and alone in unknown seas in a new adventure. Featuring intuitive touch-screen controls and innovative puzzles, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass offers new challenges for fans of the series and an easy-to-grasp introduction for gamers new to The Legend of Zelda. But time grows short, and only the Phantom Hourglass can buy Link the minutes he'll need to survive.

The stylus makes controlling Link easier than ever. Tap on the screen to make Link move, or sweep the stylus around him to swing the sword. Players can even draw a path for his boomerang and send it flying into hard-to-reach targets. Players can stash the map on the top screen for quick reference or drop it to the touch screen to make notes, study enemies, or chart a path for their boat to follow while they man the cannons.

Compete with a friend over a local wireless connection: Guide Link through special dungeons to capture the Triforce, or command the forces that oppose him.

Available from Choices UK

Steven Spielberg to make video games with EA - First game Boom Blox puzzler for Nintendo Wii

When Steven Spielberg announced he was entering the video game business many people assumed his first project would be a cinematic, visual-effects laden epic.

But his first game made under a multi-project arrangement with Electronic Arts, called Boom Blox, is a family-friendly puzzler for the Nintendo Wii.

"The first assumption is big, epic game... yadda yadda. [It's] not the game," says Louis Castle, who has worked closely with Spielberg to develop the title.

"But it's so not that product that the moment you see it, you know what you are in for.

"Steven has a multi-project deal with us and without giving too much away, there are projects much more in line with people's expectations, but those take a long time to make."

More from the BBC...

Battlestations: Pacific Preview PC video game

Unlike most World War II titles, Eidos Studios Hungary's upcoming action-tactics hybrid Battlestations: Pacific focuses on sea and air combat over traditional ground-based assault, and breaks one of the long-standing taboos in WW2 games by including an Axis campaign.

"The main goal of Pacific is to create a bigger and better game than Midway, which was just the game from the US side of the Midway campaign," lead designer Botond Szalacsi told me. "I want it to be the whole Pacific experience for the players."

Unlike its Xbox 360 and PC predecessor Battlestations: Midway, Pacific features both US and Japanese campaigns, allowing players to see the war from both perspectives and, if victorious as the Japanese, change the course of history. But creating a speculative scenario for a Japanese victory in the Pacific campaign was no simple task.

More from Shack News

God of War on Sony PlayStation 3 out March 4 in North America

SCE Santa Monica's PlayStation 3 entry in its deity slaughtering action series God of War is "coming soon," according an ad in the instruction manual for the upcoming God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP), which was delivered to Shack's Indiana branch this evening.
No additional details were provided on the title, which was hypothetically mentioned by God of War II (PS2) director Cory Barlog during a launch party for the sequel last spring, and then confirmed after Barlog left SCEA in the fall.

"If we were to do a God of War III [on PS3], then it would finish this massive story," Barlog said during the launch event. "We've always imagined God of War as a trilogy, but the PSP game very much ties into it."

The tease of another God of War title within the packaging of the series' latest entry continues a tradition that began with God of War II, the manual of which confirmed the long-rumored PSP edition. However, the God of War PS3 ad fails to specify a tentative date as the PSP one did.

Developed by Ready at Dawn with the participation of SCE Santa Monica staff, God of War: Chains of Olympus, the franchise's first PSP outing, ships to North American retailers on March 4.

Source: Shacknews

No In-game Ads in Battlefield Heroes PC shooter video game

Shacknews reports that Battlefield Heroes, the upcoming multiplayer-oriented PC shooter, will not feature any in-game advertising despite being free-to-play. This was revealed by Ben Cousins, senior producer on the project, who revealed that the advertising revenue would instead come from the game’s website itself, which must be used to launch the game.

“A bright yellow “Play Now!” button will be prominently featured on the page, along with news posts, details on purchasable items,” reads the report. “And, of course, banner ads.”

Cousins did not discuss the game’s oft-mentioned micro transaction, but did talk about the game’s low system requirements, making it an easily accessible title with casual-oriented tweaks and modifications.

Source: Digital Battle

Guitar Hero songs experience increase sales

The Guitar Hero franchise has surpassed $1 billion in North American retail sales since its initial release in the fall of 2005.

The series includes Guitar Hero (2005), Guitar Hero II (2006), Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the '80s (2007), and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (2007). Guitar Hero Aerosmith will be added in June.

Eleven of 12 Guitar Hero II songs experienced increased sales in 2007. One of them, "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas, went from 119,000 digital sales in 2006 to 297,000 in 2007, according to USA Today.

The game — whose slogan is "Kiss Your Air Guitar Goodbye!" — is bringing together kids and their families and is getting the younger generation interested in rock music again.

Nowhere is that more evident than at The Depot Bar & Restaurant in Dalton, where avid followers — young and old — flock to Guitar Hero contests.

SNK's Neo Geo stick 2 for Nintendo Wii

SNK has announced that it will be releasing Neo Geo Stick 2 for the Nintendo Wii. It will be available in Japan on April 10th for 5040 Yen (about $47).

You simply plug the attachment into the Wii remote and you'll then be able to play with all Virtual Console games.

Source: Nintencast

Play free mind-bending Zack & Wiki Nintendo Wii mini-game!

Are your puzzle-solving skills up to scratch? In Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure on Wii you’ll have to rise to all manner of mental challenges as you seek to secure untold riches.

With puzzles that call on you to direct budding pirate Zack with the Wii Remote and use items ranging from keys to tennis rackets by making the appropriate movements with the motion sensing controller, there’s plenty to keep your brain engaged at every turn!

From today, you can enjoy a taste of the kind of unique challenges that await in Zack & Wiki by heading over to the official microsite. Once there, you’ll find a Zack & Wiki style mini-game in the site’s Gameplay section.

Just as in the real Zack & Wiki, the mini-game invites you to solve a tricky puzzle and get your hands on a glittering treasure chest! In this case, a locked door is the particular obstacle preventing you from pocketing the loot.

So get your thinking cap on and take a trip to the official Zack & Wiki microsite, where you’ll also find plenty more info on this little gem of a game!

Visit the official Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure microsite

Commodore 64 on Nintendo Wii Virtual Console - soon

Already a firm favourite with Wii owners, Virtual Console is once again expanding its catalogue, this time with the addition of a whole new games format. Later this year, Wii owners will be able to enjoy classic titles from the best selling personal computer of all time: the Commodore 64. These titles join classic gems from the likes of Nintendo, SEGA, Turbografx and NEOGEO already available via the Wii Shop Channel.

The release of the Commodore 64 in 1982 was an historic moment for the computer and video games industry. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it remains the best selling single computer model of all time, with an estimated 22 million units sold. Its immense popularity saw an unrivalled collection of over 4,000 rich games titles released through its production lifetime (1982-1994), helping to establish the C64 as a ‘gamers favourite.'


Bala Keilman, CEO of Commodore Gaming, commented, “The massive impact the Commodore 64 had on video gaming is still evident today with many gamers remembering the computer and its games with great fondness. By working with Nintendo of Europe, we are ensuring that future generations of gamers can play some of the best and most popular titles that kick-started the computer games revolution and so keep the C64 legacy in gamers hearts.”

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of European Marketing & PR of Nintendo Europe added, “We are extremely pleased to be working with Commodore Gaming to provide even more retro hits for Wii owners to choose from on Virtual Console. With over 184 classic titles now available to enjoy, Virtual Console on Wii is a great way for users to access a breadth of classic retro games. We hope that this great choice of games will bring nostalgia to our gaming fans, while an entirely new generation of video game players can experience a host of classic games for the very first time.”

Among the first titles from Commodore 64 which will be made available on Virtual Console are International Karate and Uridium. These great titles will be bolstered by regular updates from the Commodore 64 back catalogue.

Virtual Console games from Commodore 64 will be available from the Wii Shop Channel soon and can be downloaded for 500 Wii Points each. Currently these titles will only be available on the European Wii Shop Channel.

As much as new games like Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption are fine ways to wile away the hours on your Wii, sometimes all you really want is a bit of quick drop-in gaming to waste a few minutes. The Virtual Console, then, is a great boon to any Wii player offering classics like the hilariously fun Battle Lode Runner, and it's about to get even better with the addition of Commodore 64 titles.

Better still, for the time being this is a Europe only deal, a rare treat. First up for download are a mere two titles, Internatonal Karate and Uridium, but Nintendo and Commodore Gaming promise "regular updates" to resurrect a much larger selection of the C64 back catalogue.

As you all know, the C64 is the single best selling computer system of all time with some 4,000-odd titles produced for it in total. Obviously not all of these are going to be on the VC (some deservedly remaining locked up) but nonetheless, there are numerous truly awesome games which I for one am just itching to play again. C64 games will set you back 500 Wii points a piece (about £4 in real money) and the first pair of titles should be available soon.

Source: Press Release

Sony PlayStationPortable PSP Go! Messenger Launched - Instant messaging Free at BT WiFi hotspots

We first caught a glimpse of Go!Messenger way back in August last year at the Games Convention, and now a mere five months later it's launched in the UK. If you fancy a bit of instant messaging and video conferencing on your PSP, for free at BT WiFi hotspots, then you'll want to pay attention.


Importantly, unlime many the recent additions such as Skype, you'll not need to have a Slim & Lite PSP, with its improved hardware specs, to get on the Go!Messenger gravy train, so there are no limitations. Also importantly there is no cost to actually download the program.

As well as simple text-based instant messaging, Go!Messenger will also allow purchasers of the optional Go!Cam to stream video and audio to any other PSP also using the program. While the appeal of doing so doesn't immediately seem as great as using, say, Skype or Windows Live Messenger, I have no doubt that it will prove popular.

Adding Go!Messenger to the PSP will work exactly like the Skype add-on, in that rather than requiring a software update, would-be users simply download the software to the console and install. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to actually grab the download, which will appear on the PlayStation store.

Source: Trusted Reviews