Look back at the week: PS3 rebound; Xbox 360 Blu-ray; Wii sales

Sales for Sony Corp.'s Playstation 3 rebounded in Japan after a five-week fall. The PS3 ranked as the No. 4 best-selling hardware for the week.

Sony this week citied Blu-ray for strong U.S. PS3 sales. The PS3 held strong sales for the second straight month in the latest U.S. tally.

NPD Group Inc. this week that the PS3 sold more than 280,000 units in the month of Feb. The hardware ranked as the No. 4 top-selling video game offering for the month.

Advanced orders for the PS3 DualShock 3 controller spiked at Amazon.com this week upon availability. The controller will be sold in the U.S. in Apr.

PS3 80GB sales gained this week at Amazon.com on a pending restock of the item. The SKU has been in and out of stock at the retailer due to high demand.

Capcom Co.'s Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is hot as ice on the PS3. Despite some visual hiccups, the title delivers big offline and online action.

Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 held a tepid sales increase in the latest Japan charts. The hardware ranked as the No. 6 video game offering in the territory for the week.

Microsoft this week debunked reports that it is in talks with Sony to provide a Blu-ray solution to the Xbox 360. Microsoft discontinued the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player last month.

Capcom Co. this week said that it will blast Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition to the Xbox 360 and PC. The new version will include new modes and cross platform gameplay.

The Xbox 360 was outsold by the PS3 in Feb. U.S. sales. The Xbox successor sold more than 254,000 units for the month.

Sega Corp. this week said that it will release Alpha Protocol to the PS3 and Xbox 360. The new espionage RPG title is slated for a 2009 release.

Aksys Games this week said that Guilty Gear 2: Overture will strike the Xbox 360. The tactical action title will be released in Q3 of 2008.
Nintendo Co.'s Wii this week ranked as the No. 1 hardware in Japan. Additionally, the console ranked five titles in the top 10 software charts.

Nintendo this week said that it will release Mario Kart Wii in Apr. The title will include the Wii Wheel peripheral.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl this week was sold out at Best Buy despite in-store availability status. The title was released on Mar. 9 in the U.S.

Nintendo this week released a new wave of Virtual Console titles to the Wii. Titles include DoReMi Fantasy and Puyo Puyo 2.

Nintendo this week said that the select Wii console may be unable to read Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It is offering to repair affected Wii consoles at no cost.
Microsoft this week said that it will add Blu-ray support to the Windows operating system. The company previously backed Toshiba's HD DVD.

Amazon.com this week price cut Blu-ray titles to as low as $14.95. Titles include Underworld, The Patriot, and Black Hawk Down.

Best Buy this week discounted HD DVD titles by 30 percent to in-store and online customers. Toshiba Corp. in Feb. said it will exit the HD DVD business.

HD DVD title The Matador spiked 15,064 percent at Amazon following a discount to $8.95. Additionally, a wave of titles were price cut to $9.95.

Source: PunchJump

SUDDEN STRIKE 3: ARMS FOR VICTORY Fact Sheet

Tanks roll. 

soldiers march. 

Battleships bristle. 

Planes thunder high above the battlefield, where untold legions lie wounded or dying. World War II has arrived, and only you can turn the tide in Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory, the latest in the multimillion-selling line of award-winning real-time strategy games, which brings history’s most storied conflicts to stunning life right on your desktop.



Sudden Strike 3 features an all-new fully 3D engine optimized for strategy games, new campaigns, massive battles, and historically modeled units that are rendered in accurate relative scale – from a wide assortment of infantry types to massive battleships and aircraft carriers – along with significantly expanded gameplay so players can wage war across a variety of terrains and environments. A new interface reduces complexity, while the addition of hundreds of new unit types (including prototype units) and new combat options (naval operations, coastal defenses and more) will offer the player an exciting and challenging strategy experience.

Key features

• Massive Scale – Watch thousands of historical and prototype units clash atop gigantic maps
  
• Explosive Action – Cutting-edge 3D engine delivers unprecedented combat detail
  
• Total Control – Intuitive user interface lets you jump right in and relive World War II’s greatest battles
  
• Real-World Tactics – Outfox hyper-intelligent enemies by air, land or sea
  
• Multiple Campaigns – Fight as the Allies or Germans in Europe, turn the tide at Iwo Jima or spearhead assaults on the USSR
  

The information contained in this fact sheet relates to a prerelease product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the product when first commercially released. This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only, and CDV Software Entertainment makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the fact sheet or the information contained in it.

Frontlines: Fuel of War PC patch nears release:

Report from VE3D

We have been pretty deep in the trenches of development. We are working hard at not only preparing to release the game to other territories such as China, Japan, Czech Republic, and Poland but also on patches and feature enhancements. You will soon have many other countries to battle it out with in multiplayer!

Our 1.0.2 patch (as some are starting to see test servers pop up in the browser) ties into these other territories and this is why things are taking longer than we would like. There are server fixes, controller fixes, new server launcher tools, remote console support, audio fixes (that should help a portion of people out there) plus other things we are waiting on legal clearance before announcing.

Although we want to release this as soon as possible we need to put in the time to make the patch solid. Again, the patch is still in test and we will notify everyone when it is ready. Thanks for your patience!

What little community support the game enjoyed continues to ebb away as players become infuriated by endless server and connection bugs.

Baseball catcher Russell Martin big fan of Nintendo Wii Table Tennis

Catcher Russell Martin and outfielder Andre Ethier took some virtual batting practice before today's game as part of a promotion staged by Guinness World Records to mark the release of its book of video game records.

Using a Nintendo Wii system, Martin and Ethier tried to break the video-game home run derby record of 51, set Friday by a 12-year-old in Ft. Myers. Martin came closest, hitting 33 homers as the Phillies' Ryan Howard before making 10 outs. Batting as himself in his first try at the record, he homered just once.

"I've got no pop in this game," said Martin, who confessed to being a big fan of Wii's table tennis game.

Ethier hit 14 and 20 homers in his two games.

Use Your Computer Games to Design Your Dream Home

Build and decorate your dream home in Our House, a new simulation for Nintendo DS announced today by Majesco Entertainment Company, an innovative provider of video games for the mass market. Developed by Majesco Studios Santa Monica, Our House puts players in the contractor's shoes, challenging them to manage work-for-hire jobs and then use those earnings to create their own custom residence. A companion title to the previously announced Wii version, Our House for DS is due in stores this holiday season.

"We are incredibly excited about the Our House franchise and this extension of it. Both DS and Wii versions leverage the innovative controls of each system to create fun, addictive games with a perennially popular theme," said Jesse Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Majesco. "We are particularly proud that this is among the first titles to be developed by Majesco Studios whose core focus is on creating unique IP and technology with a mass market appeal."

"The central building mechanic of Our House is a perfect fit for the Touch Screen since the stylus functions as a universal improvement tool," said Bill Petro, Vice President of Internal Development and Studio Head for Majesco Studios Santa Monica. "This unique, do-it-yourself concept lets players become architect, builder, interior designer and home-owner simultaneously."

Our House allows players to design, build, remodel and decorate a wide selection of homes using the DS stylus as the ultimate building tool. Lay flooring, hang cabinets, strip wallpaper, arrange furniture and much more using the intuitive Touch Screen in 100 different mini-games.

Players choose contractor assignments from the Job Board then renovate kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms for eccentric homeowners with varying tastes in decor. Gamers can also drop by the local home improvement store and spend their earnings on additional tools and furnishings, including new appliances and accessories, to boost the value of their own residence and upgrade houses throughout the game.

Our House for DS is expected to ship this holiday.

For additional information, please visit the newly relaunched http://www.majescoentertainment.com.

Korg DS-10 Synthesiser running on Nintendo DS

The Korg DS-10 is a cartridge for the Nintendo DS that turns the portable game device into a synthesized MS-10 synthesizer, including two synth engines, a drum machine, and a 16-step sequencer. You can punch in controls with three different interfaces, including an on-screen keyboard.

And while you can't link multiple DS-10s through MIDI or USB, the DS-10 does support controlling multiple DS running the software through a wireless interface.

It's Japan-only, but since the DS doesn't use a region lock on its cartridges, importing the 4,800-yen title should be no problem. In fact, I might try to grab a couple myself after the July release—they're sure to be a collector's item.

It's worth noting that this isn't an unofficial project; Korg actually sanctioned AQ Interactive to make the software.

Click link below to watch

Watch on YouTube here...

Just Trains - Rail Simulator Official Expansion Pack - out now!

The Download version of the Official Expansion Pack can be found here.

The first official expansion for the hugely successful Rail Simulator adds the Californian route from the US release of Rail Simulator and the iconic British 08 Shunter, plus extra rolling stock, scenarios and more!

This package has been painstakingly created by RSDL - part of the original Rail Simulator development team - and has to be one of the most realistic Rail Simulator expansions ever!

Cajon Pass

The Cajon Pass route runs over 80 miles of track - drive along the route from San Bernardino in Southern California to Barstow in the north and traverse the authentic climbs and descents, embankments and cuttings. Negotiate this famous route either in Free Roam mode or in the seven challenging scenarios.

• Highly detailed Union Pacific ES44AC and SD40-2 locomotives
  
• Bonus content -black reskins for the ES44AC and SD40-2 locomotives
  
• 11 unique rolling stock wagons including 2 all-new hoppers
  
• 7 scenarios including 3 new bonus ones!
  
• Detailed and accurately placed landmarks and notable buildings
  
• Realistic sounds
  
• Authentic terrain mapping and track placement
  
• AI Train operations.
  
• Class 08 Shunter

This Official expansion for Rail Simulator also includes bonus extras that were not included in the US release.

UK rail enthusiasts will enjoy highly detailed models of the Class 08 Shunter in 12 period liveries! 'Free Roam’ the existing UK routes in Rail Simulator or take on the challenges of Class 08 shunting in the six included scenarios.

Did you win the $4000 Nintendo Wii Bling for playing Super Mario Brothers Brawl

The Wii was given to the winner of the Super Smash Bros Brawl Competition.



Crystal Icing used over 20,000 Swarovski Crystals to create this unique design.

Retail price is $4,000

Check out their other 'bling' games systems.

Puzzle Quest coming to Apple iPhone?

Kotaku reports...

Yesterday I whined a bit about the lack of original announced titles coming to the iPhone. Specifically, very specifically, I called out Infinite Interactive, asking why they haven't jumped onto the iPhone bandwagon yet.

We all know the world can't get enough Puzzle Quest... well, at least I can't get enough of it. And the thought of being able to play the very touch-perfect puzzle RPG on my iPhone gives me goosebumps. So after my little hint didn't result in any immediate announcement of an iPhone Puzzle Quest or Galaxtrix, I took matters into my own hands and emailed Infinite Interactive to see what was up.

Janeen Fawkner, producer on the game was quick to respond:

Hi Brian, We would love to do a game on the iPhone, but we'll have to see what our publisher D3P has in mind... We'll suggest it to them :)

Sounds good, but I'm impatient, so I went to D3 next, asking when we could hope to see a Puzzle Quest on the iPhone and pointing out that Inifinite was gung-ho. Their spokesperson's response?

They're looking into details now and will get back to me soon.

Now, now, I want it now! I even made this handy-dandy screenshot for them. You can imagine what a pain I was to my parents when I was a kid.

Update: D3 just got back to me with this: "D3Publisher of America is exploring opportunities to bring Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords to a variety of mobile carriers."

That doesn't sound like a "Yes we're making it and you'll have it next week" to me at all. Not at all.

Nintendo get ready to launch WiiWare with nine games

Nintendo has officially announced details regarding the Japanese launch of WiiWare, and it’s looking pretty sweet. The service premeires on the 25th of this month with nine games, including My Life As A King: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (huff, puff) from Square-Enix, Pokemon Ranch and Dr. Mario from Nintendo, and Star Soldier R from Hudson.

While I’m quite anxious to give all of these titles a go, it’s Dr. Mario with its 4-player pointer mode that has me most excited.

What I’m really curious about is whether Animal Crossing will forego the disc format altogether and end up a WiiWare exclusive, as some have predicted. I wouldn’t count on it, but who knows.

WiiWare launches in the US on 5/12.

Nintendo Wii japan site

Source: 4CR