Nintendo capture over 50% of US video games hardware sales

Nintendo's Wii home console and the Nintendo DS portable video game system comfortably led U.S. sales in March, according to data from the independent NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States. Pokémon Platinum Version for Nintendo DS emerged as the No. 2 video game of the month, with nearly 805,000 units sold.

Wii tallied sales of nearly 601,000 in March, while Nintendo DS sold more than half a million, even in advance of the April 5 launch of the new Nintendo DSi system. Both Wii and Nintendo DS extended their lead as the best-selling video game systems of this generation.

"Nintendo systems accounted for 58.4 percent of the video game hardware sold in March, more than all other systems combined," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Consumers continue to be attracted to the wide range of software available and the great value of Nintendo systems."

Four games published by Nintendo finished in the top 10 best-sellers of March. These include Pokémon Platinum Version at No. 2, Wii Fit at No. 3 with more than 541,000 sold, Wii Play at No. 8 with more than 281,000 sold and Mario Kart Wii at No. 9 with more than 278,000 sold.

Early U.S. sales of the new Nintendo DSi hand-held system are ahead of those for Nintendo DS Lite, according to Nintendo's internal tracking numbers. In its first week, Nintendo DSi sold 435,000 in the United States. After the same amount of time on the U.S. market after its launch, Nintendo DS Lite had sold 226,300 systems. These numbers demonstrate that the Nintendo DS brand remains strong, and that consumers continue to look for the best new experiences on their portable video game systems.

So far this year, video game industry revenues are on par with 2008, but Nintendo remains a key driver. Without Nintendo products, the industry would be down 14 percent for the year, according to the NPD Group.

Sacred 2 - Fallen Angel video game out May 12 on Xbox 360

Action-RPG, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, has gone gold for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and will be released on May 12, 2009. For more information about Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, please visit http://www.sacred2.com.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is a hack-and-slash action-RPG with a rich story that takes place in a gigantic seamless world. This world contains massive dungeons, treacherous opponents and hundreds of challenging quests. Intelligent enemies, which adapt in number and difficulty based on player progress, challenge gamers in heroic single- and multiplayer battles for up four players on next-generation consoles.

G.I. Joe on Nintendo DS

This summer, get ready to bring the classic battle on the go as G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra explodes onto the Nintendo DS! The unique Nintendo DS version was built from the ground up to feature special gameplay components that aspiring heroes won’t find anywhere else, including a unique top-down arcade shooter view, more than 20 missions across four playable environments, and playable vehicles.

Nintendo DS fans can even chose from one of the six playable G.I. JOE characters or five playable COBRA characters and go head-to-head in a battle royale with up to four players via the handheld’s wireless play feature.

Developed by Backbone Entertainment, the Nintendo DS version of G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra hits stores this summer alongside versions on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable (PSP), and Wii.

Fritz Chess video game on iPhone and iPod Touch

Gammick Entertainment has released the Fritz Chess version for iPhone and iPod Touch to the market. After finishing the development for the Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 versions, finally this acclaimed game is also available on the App Store.

Developed by PlayWay, Fritz Chess iPhone takes advantage of all the features of the Apple platform in order to offer the user a unique experience enjoying the final chess game. Fritz software has really gained the description of “The best chess software of all times”.

The title which is granted to Fritz by all the experts seems to be more than deserved. In fact, the software has beaten champions such as Garry Kasparov o Vladimir Kramnik.

The version for iPhone and iPod Touch has 3 game modes available (Blitz, Long Game and Without Clock). Besides, it offers different game levels, therefore all users will find the proper rival according to their level even if they are beginners or experts on Chess. In addition, the exclusive system Fritz Help allows the player to have a complete help system which can be configured by the user and it will suggest the user at any time what moves are the most interesting ones… or the most catastrophic ones.

For the experts of Chess, Fritz Chess iPhone offers the possibility to analyse all the moves of a game thanks to the option Revise Game. Like this, it is possible to analyse all the moves made until that moment and to continue the game from the moment you wish.

Besides, thanks to Fritz Chess it will be possible to clarify who is the best chess player! The multiplayer mode allows you to challenge a friend in order to show who the best one on the boardgame is.

Styx and REO Speedwagon jopin Rock band video game line up

Harmonix and MTV Games announce it will add a 7-pack of songs featuring some of the biggest hits from Styx and REO Speedwagon to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content. Next week’s lineup also includes a 3-pack from progressive rock outfit Hautewerk.

Styx and REO Speedwagon are two of the most commercially successful American rock bands from the late 70s and early 80s. The “REO Speedwagon / Styx Tour ’09 Pack” will include three of Styx’s biggest singles that were recently re-recorded, including “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” and “Renegade” originally featured on the band’s eighth studio album Pieces of Eight (1978), plus “Too Much Time on My Hands” originally featured on the band’s 1981 concept album Paradise Theatre, the band’s highest charting album of all time. Also included in the 7-pack are REO Speedwagon’s timeless classics “Ridin’ the Storm Out,” originally featured on the band’s third album of the same name (1973), “Roll With the Changes,” originally featured on the band’s seventh studio album, You can Tune a Piano but You Can’t Tuna Fish (1978) and “Take It on the Run,” originally featured on the band’s 9-times platinum 1980 album Hi Infidelity.

The “REO Speedwagon / Styx Tour ’09 Pack” also includes the brand-new collaborative song between Styx and REO Speedwagon, “Can’t Stop Rockin’,” which the band recorded together in anticipation of their upcoming CAN’T STOP ROCKIN’ tour for radio and Rock Band DLC. As previously announced, Rock Band and VH1 Classic are sponsoring the bands' upcoming CAN’T STOP ROCKIN’ tour and will give fans a chance to play the Styx and REO Speedwagon DLC Rock Band tracks on a mini-stage at every concert, win Rock Band giveaways and more! CAN’T STOP ROCKIN’ kicks off on May12th in Amarillo, Texas.

In addition, progressive rockers Hautewerk will be making their Rock Band® Music Store debut next week with three tracks from their 2006 debut album Stop Start Again including “Stop Start Again,” “Alone in My Head” and “I Know Where You Came From.”

Release Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, April 23, 2009 (PlayStation Store)

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

Tracks:

Styx “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)”
Styx “Renegade”
Styx “Too Much Time on My Hands”
REO Speedwagon “Ridin’ the Storm Out”
REO Speedwagon “Roll With the Changes”
REO Speedwagon “Take It on the Run”
Styx/REO Speedwagon “Can’t Stop Rockin’”
Hautewerk “Stop Start Again”
Hautewerk “Alone in My Head”
Hautewerk “I Know Where You Came From”

(All tracks are master recordings)

Price: $1.99 $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$10.99 (880 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) “REO Speedwagon / Styx Tour ’09 Pack”
$5.49 (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) “Hautewerk Pack 01”

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360
PlayStation Network

Fish Em All Nintendo WiiWare video game - video

Fish'em All!, an arcade game with real coin-op flavour!

Abylight is pleased to announce the next release of "Fish'em All" for WiiWare.

Hold on tight to your Wii Remote and fish 'em all!

Alone or with your friends, you will have a great time catching these little fish... they're crazy!
Beat your own high scores, take on challenges and solve fun puzzles in a range of amazing stages full of colour and fantasy.
Watch out for the dragon, the ninja rat and the sumo toad!



Do you think it looks easy?

This arcade game will bring all the excitement of the great classics to your Wii console.

Available soon on WiiWare!

Features:
Nine colourful scenarios.
Three game modes: Arcade, Challenge, Fishtris.
One or two players.

Arcade

Can you beat the high score?

Play a game in Arcade mode to see how long you can last.
Catch as many fish as you can within the time limit.
Watch the fish meter. The more points you score catching fish, the faster it will fill up.
Each time you manage to fill a whole fish on the meter, you will receive extra time.
If you manage to fill them all, you will advance to the next stage.

Challenge

Complete the challenges to unlock stages. You can then select any unlocked stage to play in two player mode.
Each challenge sets you a target. Note how many fish of each colour you need to catch.
Sometimes, it will tell you which items you need to avoid or set a time limit.

Fishtris

Even more difficult!

Every time you catch a fish, it will fall into the tube. If the tube fills up, the game will end.
To keep playing, match three or more fish of the same colour to make them disappear.
When you match three or more fish of the same colour, the fish meter will fill slightly.
When you manage to fill a whole fish on the meter, you will receive extra time.
If you manage to fill them all, you will advance to the next stage. If things get tough, try and catch the anglerfish.

OutRun Online Arcade video game trailer Xbox LIVE Arcade PlayStation Network

SEGAs classic arcade racer returns, but this time its in stunning HiDef and available via PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Developed by acclaimed Sheffield studio Sumo Digital, OutRun Online Arcade, will be available early 2009.

Pirates v Ninjas Dodgeball out May 12th on Nintendo Wii

Ultimate Rivalry Between Divergent Forces to be Decided...With Balls

SouthPeak Games announced today that Pirates v Ninjas Dodgeball for Wii has gone gold.

“Finally, friends will be able to choose their sides in this age old rivalry and face off to decide who is truly the superior force,” said Richard Iggo, VP of Marketing for SouthPeak Games. “I’m confident everyone that plays will realize that pirates rule the world. Anyone who says otherwise gets a ball in the face.”

Up to four friends can compete against one another as either pirates, ninjas, or as members of other iconic teams such as robots and zombies, each with their own unique techniques and abilities. Every match in Pirates v Ninjas Dodgeball is completely customizable, allowing competitors to decide on everything from the arena you play in to game rules. In addition, Pirates v Ninjas Dodgeball features a deep, single player story mode, and challenge modes to keep players in top ball slinging shape.

“Pirates v Ninjas Dodgeball plays great thanks to the Wii controls, and intensifies rivalries because the throwing motions make it feel like you’re whipping balls at each other. I’m surprised such a classic playground game hasn’t been done on Nintendo Wii before,” said Chris Stockman, Studio Director of Blazing Lizard. “I’m also surprised anyone would choose pirates over the mystical power of ninjas. Fools such as these are easily defeated.”

Pirates v Ninjas Dodgeball will be shipping to stores on May 12.

Street Fighter IV - Championship Mode Update comes Free

Capcom is bringing new options to Street Fighter IV with an eye towards serious players. Street Fighter IV’s Championship Mode update expands on the fighting fun by offering players the chance to compete in tournaments and to watch replays of the best tournament matches. Best of all it comes to you at no cost. The Championship Mode update will be available for both PS3 and Xbox 360 owners on Friday, April 24 (exact times TBC).

Championship Mode offers you the chance to compete in five different grades of tournaments, creating the right challenge for players of every skill level. You’ll score Grade Points (GP) for tournament wins, and as your GP total grows, you’ll become eligible to enter into more exclusive tournaments. Winning tournaments will also net you Championship Points (CP). CPs are like “prize money” up for grabs in the tournament. The higher the GP skill of the players in a particular tournament, the bigger the CP prize!

Replay Mode allows you to select and watch the best Championship Mode tournament matches.

* On the PlayStation Network, you can rate matches while you watch according to characteristics such as “awesome” or “funny.” Replays are then ranked based on these vote ratings.
* On Xbox Live, instead of rating the matches, you can choose to download and save your favourite replays to study the players’ techniques. You’ll also be able to turn on the input commands from both players to be able to review their button and joystick motions in precise detail.

Zombie Apocalypse video game on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 - screenshots

Zombie Apocalypse casts up to four players as heavily-equipped gun-slingers left to fight for survival in a world where the undead have risen and are feasting on the living. As such, Zombie Apocalypse sets players the grisly task of destroying as many zombies as possible in order save the last remaining human survivors.

Using an array of up to eleven lethal weapons that includes assault rifles, flame throwers and a teddy bear filled with C4 explosives, players can play together on one console or online as they work together to stop the zombie attacks and rescue survivors. Players can also use a chainsaw to melee zombies and can also use environmental hazards to crush, burn, slice, or cause other types of destruction on the masses of zombies.

The eradication of the undead rewards the players with points, as they compete for high scores which are logged online. Zombie Apocalypse’s action-packed, arcade-style shooter will test gamers’ shooting skills and their ability to survive 55 days of battles across the game’s seven environments. Failure results in players becoming one of the undead, and on completing the mission, players can re-live the apocalypse with seven challenging unlockable game modes.