The program, Glitch, is funded by the National Science Foundation and employs dozens of Atlantan teens as game testers. Kids tested games for companies like Electronic Arts, Cartoon Network, and GameTap.

Betsy DiSalvo, student at Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing PhD and Glitch’s lead researcher, played a vital role in the project. DiSalvo became interested in the subject after studying some statistics concerning African American gamers.

In an interview with Noire Digerati she said “that is a very dramatic [contrast compared to] people who do use game interest as an entry point into computer science,” she said.

“What I found” DiSalvo said to Digerati. “Was this really strong sense of sportsmanship and social play, And because of that, they weren’t cheating, modding, or hacking the games at all. They were pretty much playing the games straight out of the boxes the way they were intended to be played. They weren’t seeing games as something that could be manipulated, or something they had power over.”

DiSalvo and other researchers began to find ways for people “break the games open,” despite codes of sportsmanship and fair play. They came up with and interesting solution: game testing.
Glitch Game Testers was born June 2008 and continues strong, helping young African Americans open up new career avenues. Glitch is a success and has gone farther than expected, according to DiSalvo. “[They] are trying to turn them from being just consumers, to being producers of technology. Not just producing with technology, not just using software, but actually producing the software itself,” Disalvo explained.

Corey Steward, Computer Science major at Georgia Tech, Glitch research assistant and black man, said he related to the boys in the program. He recalled enjoying computer science as a child but being distance from an opportunity to be in contact with it. The highest level tech course available to him was a typing course.

DiSalvo believes Glitch and similar programs may have a lasting impact in the U.S. She has formulated two possible models for imitating and applying Glitch outside of the current program.
Disalvo told Digerati “one way is to launch Glitch as a brand and actually set this up as a larger company and open up other offices to do this,” she said. “[The other way would include] an existing game company or game testing company. You could put this in as a high school program.”

Steward also believes in the potential of Glitch saying that it “can grow way beyond a research program.”

“You can put this in communities and give kids resources they wouldn’t normally have, or [put people in place] who can teach them things they wouldn’t normally learn,” he said.
Special thanks to www.blackdigerati.org for covering the story.

Not wasting anytime, the show opened with a large present on stage. The voice of Mark Hamil’s Joker begins to echo from the loudspeakers, asking viewers if they’re ready for the big surprise. And thusly, the shoe kicked off with arguably the biggest reveal of the night, as were were treated to a short teaser trailer, ending with a sickly looking (and sounding Joker), hooked up to an IV and coughing and wheezing his way through his trademark maniacal laughter. Fade to black and we’re greeted by the phrase “Arkham Has Moved”.

Of course, that was just the start of the big reveals. We had been promised a new Star Wars game would be announced, and fans were not let down as LucasArts brought us the first teaser for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II. The trailer featured the first game’s protagonist, Starkiller, walking into a large gladiator arena while the voices of Yoda and Darth Vader speak about death, destiny, and the future.

Trailer snippets of a so-called “mystery games” had been released by Spike over the past week or so, and that game was also finally unveiled at the VGAs, in the form of a new True Crime title. You might remember the name from a pair sub-par GTA clones that Activision published in the first half of the decade. Both of those games were developed by Luxoflux, who went on to make games based on Shrek and Transformers. This new True Crime is being helmed by United Front Games, makers of the promising but yet to be released ModNation Racers, and moves away from the United States to China. The original True Crime titles had tons of promise but failed to deliver. Hopefully the recent trend of excellent open-world games will ensure this new True Crime game is worth playing.

The premiers continued throughout the show’s two hour runtime. We got our first gameplay looks at the new Medal of Honor and Crackdown 2, debut trailers for Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and Tron Evolution, and game reveal trailers for Spec Ops: The Line and Green Day Rock Band. Be sure to tune into the Dibcast next week for our full thoughts on this years VGAs (or check my Twitter feed from tonight to see just how bad of an idea I think Green Day Rock Band is). Drop me a line at josh[at]gamedibs.com and tell me what you thought about the awards, and maybe we’ll use your email on the Dibcast next week.

Until then, be sure to check out all of tonight’s reveals by clicking here.

The game uses a classic 2D platform and Max’s imagination serves as the basis of the story line. Players navigate through a wacky version of Max’s neighborhood and an orange magic marker is the only tool used to solve an array of challenges. If Max cannot jump to reach a ledge, players can draw a basic line that translates to a bridge he can easily cross.  If a boulder needs to be pushed, players can draw a line to act as a lever. If Max needs to jump really high, players can draw a small triangle with a line over it to act as a see-saw. Of course a see-saw alone won’t propel Max up, players also need to draw a rock high above that will drop on the other side, launching Max into the air. All of these objects can be drawn in during the game-play, or the game could be paused in order to draw the objects uninterrupted.

Drawings can also be used to defeat enemies. The enemies in this game are Max’s imaginary friends called Gobos who have been turned evil (and purple) by a purple monster. The purple Gobos will make you lose a turn if you so much as touch them. Besides avoidance, players can kill these monsters by dropping heavy ink objects on them, or they can draw barriers to avoid them. It is also dynamic because of its use of physics. The more ink used, the heavier the object is and the game grows more challenging because the marker runs out of ink. Players are limited to smaller and lighter objects and have to make due with what they have.

I had a lot of fun playing this game. The concept itself was what really interested me. Throughout the levels players have complete freedom with what they could draw to complete a challenge. Sometimes I drew basic lines to get from point A to point B, other times I was able to draw more complex models. The  rating for this game will probably be E for everyone, but people of all ages really will have a blast with this game. I have been keeping up with their blog about Max and the Magic Marker: http://maxandthemagicmarker.com/, and it has been fun getting a behind the scenes look at the inspiration and the creation of this game.

Divineo has been sued in France, Spain and Hong Kong for its line of flash cards with mixed results of the outcome of each case. “A Paris criminal court recently ruled in favor of Divineo,” but in Hong Kong they are still owed damages for a suit in their favor according to Joystiq.com. The flash cards allow users to download DS ROMs and play any DS game free of charge.

However, Divineo does not only cater to DS fans but XBOX users, PS 3 users, Wii users and most other platforms. The products they solicit range from fancy controllers to modification chips for the XBOX 360, Wii and even the original XBOX. The descriptions of products are vague at best and after browsing through their inventory it is clear that their stock sells out quickly. One only has to check their chip/development site to see that Divineo is pushing more than a few flash cards.

Divineo is an online producer of flash cards that allow users to play Rom’s of Nintendo DS games. Nintendo originally took the group to court over DS flash cards, but the judge has ruled against Nintendo and suggested that they are purposely locking out developers from their consoles.

The ramifications of this are huge, as it indicates that flash cards are actually legal. Moreover, it could have bigger implications for developers and the like because Nintendo is deemed to be ‘illegally’ protecting their system by locking users out. Therefore, developers should not actually require separate development kits and should just be able to develop applications as they wish on retail versions of Nintendo’s consoles.

This may be a globally relevant court case and seems likely to be relevant to the whole of Europe. Essentially, France has allowed a legal window for pirating on the Nintendo DS. According to their laws it is all fine because Nintendo has left them with little other choice.

Full court documents will be available soon.

The grand-prize winner, Dave Pullen of Billings, Mont., will be outfitted for his next fishing expedition in style, with more than $3,000 worth of prizes, including a Shimano Voltaeus 7-foot MH spinning rod with a Sonora 2500 spinning reel, a Hoyt AlphaMax bow, and a Muzzy Pro Extreme Bowfishing Kit, a Retriever Pro Combo Kit and Ghosted Fish hoody from AMS Bowfishing, and a copy of Shimano Xtreme Fishing for Wii™.

“This fishing package is a fisherman’s dream,” said Bill Swartz, Head Woof of Mastiff. “It’s everything our winner will need to have a ‘Shimano Xtreme Fishing’ like experience in the real world!”

Nine runners-up will also receive their own copies of Shimano Xtreme Fishing for Wii™, plus apparel from Hoyt and AMS Bowfishing.

More information can be found on the Shimano Xtreme Fishing Web site at www.sxf-game.com. A complete list of winners will be posted at the Web site next week.
About Shimano Xtreme Fishing
Shimano Xtreme Fishing invites players to go after the greatest catches of their lives with a traditional rod and reel, a bow and arrow or use SCUBA gear and a spear gun to get up close and personal with the fish. The game features cutting-edge gear like Shimano Voltaeus fishing rods, Hoyt bows, AMS Bowfishing reels and accessories, and Muzzy arrow points. Shimano Xtreme Fishing offers 65+ medals and awards to win and post to the leader board, 12 complete tournaments and over 50 varieties of fish. The game is for one to four players.

Always asking questions about how the world works and delightfully obstinate when things don’t go her way, Little Princess is like almost every kid. Full of energy and very curious, the princess will continue charming girls from all over the world with her new video game.

“As a developer specialized in virtual worlds for kids, Frima Studio knows how to bring a fantasy world into a video game. We are very happy to work with their team to bring this brand to console,” mentioned Daniel Torbjornsson from PAN Vision.

“Video game is the best way for children to interact with their favorite toy or fairytale character,” commented Frima’s CEO Steve Couture. “It is a pleasure to bring our expertise to PAN Vision for this beautiful project. Little Princess marks the beginning of a great relationship between our two companies.”

The game development will officially start on January 2010. In the meantime, you can discover the Little Princess Web kingdom at www.littleprincesskingdom.com.

“One of the most important elements of what makes Shiren the Wanderer a worthwhile RPG adventure on Wii is its intricate story,” commented Crystal Murray, PR Specialist at Atlus. “The stoic ronin Shiren and his ever-prattling sidekick Koppa set out on an epic millennium-spanning journey, steeped in Japanese mythology. Join them as they as they race to unlock the secrets of a mystical land. The newly launched official website and trailer will help make waiting for the game’s February release slightly more bearable, of course excluding fans who have access to a time machine and/or the ability to safely freeze themselves until said time, in which case they’re all set.”

When you’re done viewing and reviewing the trailer, head on over to the recently opened official game website (http://www.atlus.com/shiren), which will further verse you on everything Shiren, showering you with additional art, info, and more.

Exceptionally reviewed by famed Japanese gaming publication Famitsu (9/9/8/9), this latest entry in the legendary series stands as one of the most addictive, highly rewarding, and endlessly replayable games available on Wii, not to mention the most accessible Shiren game yet.

Shiren the Wanderer for Wii is currently scheduled for release on February 9, 2010.

On Thanksgiving Day, to give customers the most flexibility to get great fashion and gifts at great value, select Old Navy stores will be open to kick off their weekend-long Gobblepalooza promotion, featuring 3 days of rockin’ deals and special Rock Band product gifts with purchase. The holiday promotion begins on November 26.

Consumers will be treated to a rockin’ shopping experience when Old Navy unveils Rock Band game play kiosks in close to 700 stores in the United States and Canada. The kiosks will be featured throughout the holiday season, giving families a fun outlet during their busy holiday shopping trips.

In addition, six of the Old Navy flagship stores will install 10 x 10 fully equipped Rock Band entertainment stages providing consumers the chance to perform like rock stars. Families are invited to come down and play on Thanksgiving Thursday as part of the Gobblepalooza weekend. Customers will also get a chance to win a $200 shopping spree, Rock Band song tracks and other great prizes. Old Navy stores in Canada will join the promotion when they unveil their Rock Band kiosks on Friday, November 27th. For a full list of stores that feature the Rock Band game play kiosks and stages visit www.rockband.com/oldnavy or www.gobblepalooza.com.

“Rock Band offers families a wonderful activity to enjoy together and we’re excited to bring that experience to life in Old Navy stores this Holiday season,” said Christina Glorioso, Vice President of Marketing Sponsorships for MTV Games. “This will make shopping for the Holidays fun for everyone and give moms a great activity to keep kids (and dads) entertained.”

The Gobblepalooza weekend will also offer two different Rock Band product gift with purchase offers, while supplies last. On Thanksgiving Thursday, consumers who purchase Rock Band™2 software for the Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 or Wii™ will receive a free Rock Band guitar. On Black Friday, the first consumers to purchase $20 or more of Old Navy merchandise will receive a very special free Rock Band gift with purchase for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, or Wii (a $49.99 value), while supplies last.

In addition, families nationwide will have the opportunity to expand their Rock Band music library collection in December when Old Navy rolls out “Wonderful Wednesdays” on December 9th and December 16th. People who purchase $25 or more of Old Navy merchandise will receive a free Rock Band track download code.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 System and Wii

Rock Band is delivering more Nirvana tracks next week, including the rock anthem, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” from the band’s best-selling 1991 album, Nevermind. “Nirvana Pack 02” also includes two live recordings – “Come As You Are,” from the band’s legendary MTV Unplugged performance, and “Lithium,” from the 1992 Reading Festival. The Live at Reading CD/DVD is also available for purchase in stores. Fans can also download “About a Girl,” “Blew” and “School,” from Bleach, already available in the Rock Band Music Store. Nirvana released their debut album, Bleach, in 1989 on Sub Pop Records, and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this platinum-selling album, Sub Pop released a special edition of the album, in stores now, featuring a complete and previously unreleased live concert recorded in 1990 in Portland, Oregon.

San Francisco-formed hard rockers Night Ranger debuts in the Rock Band universe next week with a three pack of songs that includes “(You Can Still) Rock in America” and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” both of which were re-recorded for Rock Band, and “You’re Gonna Hear It From Me,” from 2008’s Hole in the Sun. Night Ranger has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide and is still touring after almost 30 years. “Night Ranger Pack 01” will be available in both the Rock Band Music Store and the family-friendly LEGO® Rock Band Music Store.

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Dec. 1) and PlayStation 3 system (Dec. 3):

· Nirvana – “Come As You Are (Live from MTV Unplugged)” +

· Nirvana – “Lithium (Live at Reading)”

· Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

· Night Ranger – “(You Can Still) Rock in America” +

· Night Ranger – “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” +

· Night Ranger – “You’re Gonna Hear It From Me” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Night Ranger Pack 01” or “Nirvana Pack 02” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks on Wii. Tracks marked with a “+” are also available in the family-friendly LEGO Rock Band Music Store.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$5.49, £3.99 UK, €2.49 EU (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Night Ranger Pack 01” or “Nirvana Pack 02”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

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

“When we launched Rock Band two years ago, we made a promise to create a music gaming experience that delivered on a weekly basis more songs and artists than ever imagined,” said Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and CEO of Harmonix Music Systems. “We’re extremely proud to pass this remarkable milestone of over 1,000 songs in Rock Band and will continue to innovate and bring more of the best music to Rock Band players all over the world.”

“The library of great songs available to players on the Rock Band platform is vast and continues to grow,” said Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games and Music at MTV Networks Music Group. “This milestone reflects a tremendous amount of hard work from the world-class teams at Harmonix, MTV Games and at our artist, management, label and publishing partners.”

Rock Band delivers content in a variety of unique ways. Fans can access content included on the disc of Rock Band 2 and export other discs into their music library including Rock Band, LEGO® Rock Band, and a variety of track packs, which employ the disc export technology that Harmonix pioneered. Additionally, players can select from weekly downloadable content, now in its 105th consecutive week, all created by the dedicated Harmonix audio and art teams.

To date, Rock Band fans have downloaded more than 60 million songs from the Rock Band Music Store, and coming soon, Harmonix and MTV Games will be delivering new content via the Rock Band Network, a new suite of tools that allow bands and labels of all shapes and sizes to author their songs into downloadable, playable Rock Band tracks available for sale. With more than 1,000 tracks available to date in the standard Rock Band platform, the Rock Band Network Music Store will exponentially increase the number of songs available, further securing MTV Games and Harmonix’s position as the leading provider of downloadable content for music-based video games.

For a complete list of all 1,000 songs, please visit www.rockband.com/music or see the attached documents, which outline all songs to date, plus some fun Rock Band platform song stats.

3536980
*Played on Very Hard difficulty*

If you think you can beat my score, send me a message or leave me a comment in this post. Just let me know you topped my score and i will check the leaderboards to confirm. Who knows, you might even win something from me personally. Check out the photo below for proof and to see my horrible paint skills. Let the games begin!!

]]> http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/wii/resident-evil-the-darkside-chronicles-gamedibs-coms-own-koru-issues-a-challenge/feed 0 http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/rock-band-adds-tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers-6-pack http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/rock-band-adds-tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers-6-pack#comments Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:01:43 +0000 Koru http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/rock-band-adds-tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers-6-pack Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that a six pack of live tracks from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, as well as singles from Kelly Clarkson, P!nk and the Go-Go’s will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system and Wii™.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 System and Wii

Rock Band is delivering more tracks from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with a six pack of live tracks that coincide with the group’s latest album release, The Live Anthology. All six songs featured in “Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live Anthology Pack 01” are featured on The Live Anthology, a box set featuring 48 live recorded tracks on four discs that will be released Nov. 24, the same day these tracks come to Rock Band. The album spans 30 years of concerts from legendary U.S. rockers Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, who have been performing together since 1976. A special boxed set edition of The Live Anthology will also be available Nov. 22, exclusively at Best Buy.

Downloadable content featured for LEGO® Rock Band kicks off with three songs featured in both the Rock Band Music Store and the family-friendly LEGO Rock Band Music Store with “Girls Who Rock!” Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling recording artist Kelly Clarkson will make her Rock Band debut next week with “Miss Independent,” the Grammy-nominated single from her 2004 album, Thankful. The 80s anthem, “Our Lips Are Sealed,” from The Go-Go’s and P!nk’s “Who Knew” will also be available in the Rock Band Music Store and the LEGO Rock Band Music Store next week.

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Nov. 24) and PlayStation 3 system (Nov. 26):

· Go-Go’s – “Our Lips Are Sealed” +

· Kelly Clarkson – “Miss Independent” +

· P!nk – “Who Knew” +

· Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “A Thing About You (live)” +

· Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “American Girl (live)”

· Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Even the Losers (live)”

· Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Here Comes My Girl (live)” +

· Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Mary Jane’s Last Dance (live)”

· Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Refugee (live)” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live Anthology Pack 01” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks on Wii. Tracks marked with a “+” are also available in the family-friendly LEGO Rock Band Music Store.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$9.99, £4.99 UK, €7.99 EU (800 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live Anthology Pack 01”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 System and Wii

Rock Band is delivering more tracks from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with a six pack of live tracks that coincide with the group’s latest album release, The Live Anthology. All six songs featured in “Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live Anthology Pack 01” are featured on The Live Anthology, a box set featuring 48 live recorded tracks on four discs that will be released Nov. 24, the same day these tracks come to Rock Band. The album spans 30 years of concerts from legendary U.S. rockers Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, who have been performing together since 1976. A special boxed set edition of The Live Anthology will also be available Nov. 22, exclusively at Best Buy.

Downloadable content featured for LEGO® Rock Band kicks off with three songs featured in both the Rock Band Music Store and the family-friendly LEGO Rock Band Music Store with “Girls Who Rock!” Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling recording artist Kelly Clarkson will make her Rock Band debut next week with “Miss Independent,” the Grammy-nominated single from her 2004 album, Thankful. The 80s anthem, “Our Lips Are Sealed,” from The Go-Go’s and P!nk’s “Who Knew” will also be available in the Rock Band Music Store and the LEGO Rock Band Music Store next week.

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Nov. 24) and PlayStation 3 system (Nov. 26):

·        Go-Go’s – “Our Lips Are Sealed” +

·        Kelly Clarkson – “Miss Independent” +

·        P!nk – “Who Knew” +

·        Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “A Thing About You (live)” +

·        Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “American Girl (live)”

·        Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Even the Losers (live)”

·        Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Here Comes My Girl (live)” +

·        Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Mary Jane’s Last Dance (live)”

·        Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Refugee (live)” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live Anthology Pack 01” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks on Wii. Tracks marked with a “+” are also available in the family-friendly LEGO Rock Band Music Store.

Price:             $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$9.99, £4.99 UK, €7.99 EU (800 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live Anthology Pack 01”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

Rock Band DLC Additions for Wii in Europe

Rock Band 2 for the Wii was released Oct. 9 in Europe. Featuring over 100 songs (The Rock Band 2 game disc features 84 tracks. In addition, players have access to an additional 20 free DLC tracks. Online connection required.), Rock Band 2 showcases an extensive music catalogue with an eclectic blend of classic and new artists. The Rock Band library for Wii in Europe is being updated regularly with back-catalog tracks. For a complete list of tracks available now, visit http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3247220#post3247220.

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

Website Links:

For more information, please visit:

Rock Band Website

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Website

Rock Band 2 is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Wii system. Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii versions support downloadable content.

Downloadable content for Wii is purchased via the in-game Rock Band Music Storeusing Wii Points™ purchased through the Wii™ Shop Channel and can be downloaded to the system memory or to an SD card for additional storage.  The tracks stream directly from the SD card for seamless play.

There are now 1,000 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock with more than 60 million paid downloads since its launch Nov. 20, 2007.  The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB. Music downloads are not rated by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

Capcom® Entertainment, a
leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today
announced that three classic Ace Attorney® games are scheduled for
digital release on Nintendo’s WiiWare next year beginning with the one
that started it all, Phoenix Wright™: Ace Attorney® followed by
Phoenix Wright™ Ace Attorney®: JUSTICE FOR ALL, and Phoenix Wright™
Ace Attorney®: TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. Gamers can expect the
deliberations to begin January 2010. These games will cost 1,000 Wii
Points, $10.00 USD.

Rockford, the friendly Labrador retriever in Remington Great American Bird Hunt, not only refrains from laughing at hunters who aren’t having the best day, he lends a helping paw. When called with a special power-up, Rockford races off into the brush to flush flocks of bonus birds into range.

“Here at Mastiff, we felt like man’s best friend wasn’t getting his due in hunting games,” said Bill Swartz, Head Woof of Mastiff. “Our four-legged friends deserve a virtual representative they can be proud of–one who upholds canine values like loyalty, obedience and hard work. Rockford is a great example for aspiring hunting dogs everywhere.”

“Woof, woof, woof, wag, wag, sniff, sniff, woof!” added Rockford.

Remington Great American Bird Hunt is now available at retail locations nationwide. For more information, visit the official Web site at http://www.remingtonbirdhunt.com.

Koch Media and Repetto have signed a partnership agreement for the upcoming ballet simulation game “Let’s Play Ballerina” on Nintendo DS™ and Wii™.

The world-wide agreement with Repetto for “Let’s Play Ballerina” means budding ballerinas will get to don Repetto outfits in the game, and the brand logo will appear in the game and on the packaging. Both partners will conduct additional marketing activities, such as banners on the companies’ websites and traditional advertising in general consumer publications, and Repetto expects to support PR efforts by offering special merchandise.

The products in the “Let’s Play” series distinguish offer a variety of themes and tie in with basic play styles of girls and boys who enjoy “trying on” various adult roles. The casual games open a door into the world of adults in a playful and entertaining manner. As they assume different roles, they learn, for example, what it means to have responsibility, to look after little children or animals, and to demonstrate courage and creativity. In doing so, the “Let’s Play” titles are not heavy-handed, but to entertain kids with games that balance learning with fun and encourage motivation.

“Let’s Play Ballerina” for Nintendo DS™ and Wii™ is being developed by ZigZagIsland and will be published by Deep Silver in 2010.

Unlike the previous Rabbids titles, this one is an action adventure in which you play as two Rabbids in a shopping cart, running around and collecting various items and junk, to build a ladder to their home, the moon.

It kinda reminds me of that ladder to heaven episode of South Park. “Where were you…..”

Anyway, you use the nunchuck to control your Rabbids. You can hold the A button down to speed up your cart, and shake the Wiimote to make your Rabbid scream and knock over boxes and break through walls. Those are the basic controls with some minor additions later in the game.

Perhaps the greatest feature in this game is the option to create your own Rabbid look. This mode is very deep and has tons of customization options to make your Rabbid look any way you’d like. You can unlock present boxes in the game, which give you more customization options to choose from. You can move their ears around, make their eyes bigger or smaller, and even pop them if you want.

The Rabbid is inside your wiimote during the customization process, and you can shake the wiimote around and make the Rabbid do all sorts of things.

The game is extremely funny. From the old school music tracks like “Somebody to love” and “Me and Ms. Jones” it’s sure to hit a nostalgic nerve in some folks.

The game is not without it’s flaws though, as you can see in the video portion of the review with a glitch accidentally discovered by Domojade. We got stuck and had to restart the level. Also, the game crashed on me once randomly.

There is also a Rabbids channel, which is an optional install. The Rabbids channel lets you download other peoples Rabbid creations, and even share your own via wi-fi. It’s about 71 blocks or so, and it’s entirely optional.

Overall, the game has great controls, lots of humor, great music, and very nice graphics. It’s worth a look if you are a fan of the Rabbids, or would like to play a Rabbids game that isn’t just a bunch of mini games. This has been Rabbids Go Home for the Nintendo Wii, and it’s a pretty good adventure title that’s sure to give you a few laughs.

With an arsenal of authentic Remington shotguns that look, feel and shoot like the real things, Remington Great American Bird Hunt is a fast-paced and fun take on the sport of bird hunting. On their own or with a hunting party of up to three friends, players will take on more than 20 birds including turkeys, ducks, grouse and pheasants as Rockford, the faithful hunting dog, stays close by to lend a helping paw when needed. Each new environment and bird species calls for new strategies and carefully selected Remington shotguns. Sixty levels and more than 50 trophies and power-ups make Remington Great American Bird Hunt a game worth enjoying again and again.
Multiplayer action in Remington Great American Bird Hunt includes support for up to four players at one time, with options for both competitive and cooperative play and a separate party game mode. Remington Great American Bird Hunt is optimized to work with the Wii Remote™ or the Wii Zapper accessory.

“Remington Great American Bird Hunt is all about non-stop hunting action,” said Bill Swartz, Head Woof of Mastiff. “We took the best parts of hunting, like the adrenaline rush from a great shot, Remington’s legendary shotguns and the experience of spending time with your buddies, added bonuses and power-ups, and turned it into a game that’s just plain fun to play for anyone, be they hunter or gamer.”

For more information about Remington Great American Bird Hunt, please visit http://www.remingtonbirdhunt.com

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band becomes the
second full album from The Beatles to hit The Beatles: Rock Band Music
Store since the video game’s launch on September 9, 2009. Last month MTV
Games and Harmonix released Abbey Road (1969) as the first full
downloadable album for use in the game. Additionally, “All You Need Is
Love,” the first downloadable track available for the game, has shown similar
success with more than 100,000 downloads to date on XboxLIVE online
entertainment network and all Apple Corps Ltd., MTV Games, Harmonix and
Microsoft proceeds benefiting Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières

With “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “With A Little Help From My
Friends,” “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” “Getting Better,” and “Good Morning
Good Morning” already included on The Beatles: Rock Band game disc,
players will now be able to play songs from, and complete, the entire Sgt.
Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

Available for Xbox 360 video game and
entertainment system from Microsoft (Nov. 17) and PlayStation 3 System (Nov.
19):

Individual Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band singles:
“Fixing A Hole,” “She’s Leaving Home,” “Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!,”
“Within You Without You,” “When I’m Sixty-Four,” “Lovely Rita,” “Sgt. Pepper’s
Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” and “A Day In The Life.”

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK,
€1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per each individual track

The “Complete The Album Pack”
features:
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band singles:
“Fixing A Hole,” “She’s Leaving Home,” “Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!,”
“Within You Without You,” “When I’m Sixty-Four,” “Lovely Rita,” “Sgt. Pepper’s
Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” and “A Day In The
Life.”

Price: $13.49 USD, £7.49,
€8.99 (1080 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Complete The Album
Pack”

Available for Wii (Nov. 17):

Individual
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band singles: “Fixing A Hole,”
“She’s Leaving Home,” “Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!,” “Within You Without
You,” “When I’m Sixty-Four,” “Lovely Rita,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club
Band (Reprise)” and “A Day In The Life.”

Price: $2.00 USD (200 Wii Points) per each
individual track

As previously announced the complete Rubber Soul (1965) album will
be released as downloadable content in December. The Beatles: Rock
Band downloadable content is available for purchase on the Xbox LIVE,
PlayStationNetwork and via the in-game The Beatles: Rock Band Music
Store for Wii using Wii Points purchased through the Wii Shop
Channel.

The Beatles: Rock Band offers players an unprecedented,
experiential progression through the music and artistry of The Beatles and is
available for Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and Wii
console from Nintendo. The game is compatible with all The Beatles: Rock
Band and Rock Band instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar
Hero and other authorized third-party music video game peripherals and
microphones.

The Beatles: Rock Band marks the first time
that Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Harrisongs
Ltd and Startling Music Ltd has presented The Beatles music in an interactive
video game format. The Beatles: Rock Band is published by MTV Games and
developed by Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game company
and creators
of the best-selling Rock Band. Electronic Arts Inc. serves
as distribution partner for the game. In addition, Giles Martin, co-producer of
The Beatles’ innovative LOVE album project, provided his expertise and
served as
Music Producer for this groundbreaking Beatles
project.

The Beatles: Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen with the
descriptors “Mild Lyrics” and “Tobacco Reference” by the ESRB.

Congratulations to Activision! It will be interesting to see how Modern Warfare stacks up in the reviewers’ eyes during the holiday season. Are we looking at this year’s Game-of-the-Year or just a pretty sales figure? We shall see!

Focused on intense competition that captures Shaun’s riding style, personality and spirit, Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage allows players to feel the thrill of the ride and experience the life of a professional snowboarder participating in the highest levels of competitions around the world.

“Partnering with Shaun to develop this game has been an incredible experience,” said Antoine Guignard, producer of Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage at Ubisoft. “We wanted to create something for everyone with this game and let players everywhere get a chance to ‘live the life’ of a professional snowboarder.”

From a half pipe in the middle of New York’s Times Square to the most prestigious competitions in France, Canada, Japan and more, players can explore extraordinary mountains and iconic locations all over the world in 75 fun and unique challenges. With a ton of new events to compete in and seamless co-op multiplayer options, players can rise to the top of the world rankings with friends too.

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage is compatible with Wii MotionPlus and Wii Balance Board accessories. From creating and naming snowboarding tricks to riding in style with customized characters, players can be creative and fully immerse themselves in the game while experiencing the thrill of competition.

For more information, please visit www.shaunwhitegame.com

“With so many new ways to play your favorite Hasbro board games on digital platforms, it’s never been easier to bring fun and laughter to holiday gatherings,” according to an EA press release.

HASBRO Family Game night is available for retail on the XBOX 360 and Nintendo DS but is available for purchase on XBOX LIVE Games on Demand and the PlayStation Network as well.

TRIVIAL PURSUIT and MONOPLOY will be available exclusively through XBOX LIVE Games on Demand and the PlayStation Network and will include TRIVIAL PURSUIT Sports. For more information on the release go to www.hasbro.ea.com.

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game will be released this December 1st on PS3, X360, PC, Wii, DS/DSi, and PSP.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 System and Wii

Brother/sister duo The White Stripes will release a three pack of some of their most loved songs on Rock Band next week. The band, composed of Jack White (of The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs, both featured in Rock Band) and Meg White, has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide and has won five Grammy Awards, including three for Best Alternative Music Album. “The White Stripes Pack 01” will feature “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” from the 2001 album, White Blood Cells; “Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine,” from the 2003 album, Elephant; and “Icky Thump” from the 2007 album of the same name. A tour documentary titled “The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights” debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival this September and is currently making the festival rounds to rave reviews.  The film, directed by Emmett Malloy, is a visual and emotional documentation of The White Stripes making their way through Canada where they played every province and territory, culminating with their 10th anniversary show in Nova Scotia. “The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights” is scheduled to be released in early 2010.

English punk rockers The Damned make their Rock Band debut next week with “Smash It Up,” and English rockers Kasabian add to their Rock Band catalog, with “Club Foot.”

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Nov. 10) and PlayStation 3 system (Nov. 12):

• The Damned – “Smash It Up (Part II)”
• Kasabian – “Club Foot”
• The White Stripes – “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground”
• The White Stripes – “Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine”
• The White Stripes – “Icky Thump”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “The White Stripes Pack 01” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks on Wii. Tracks marked with a “+” are also available in the family-friendly LEGO Rock Band Music Store.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$5.49, £2.49 UK, €3.99 EU (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “The White Stripes Pack 01”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points^™) per track

Rock Band Unplugged Tracks for PSP System

Rock Band Unplugged fans will enjoy the addition of No Doubt’s “Excuse Me Mr.” and Dropkick Murphy’s “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” to the 55 tracks already available via the Rock Band Unplugged in-game music store for the PSP system.

Tracks available for Rock Band Unplugged (Nov. 12):

• • • No Doubt – “Excuse Me Mr.”
    • Dropkick Murphys – “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”

Price: $1.99, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU per track on the PSP.

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

Website Links:

For more information, please visit:

www.rockband.com
www.whitestripes.com

Players will use the Wii Remote as a flashlight to illuminate the environment and solve puzzles. The premise of the game has players discovering the back story of Seto and his abandoned world, as well as delve into the lives of people during the final days before the apocalypse. Watch for it in early 2010.

http://zoinkgames.com/wiiwaa/

As we suspected, this game will be a Japan-port of DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 3, which hit store shelves in North America this week. Like Hottest Party 3, Music Fit will have a special “Wii Balance Board Mode” along with “Kids Mode” and “DDR School” for beginners.

For those of you thirsting for some J-Pop tunes, Music Fit certainly looks to be delivering on that front. 27 licenses are promised, including the following:

Journey through the Decade
Climax Jump pop’n form
迷宮バタフライ (Meikyoku Butterfly)
シャングリラ (Shangri-La)
「ウイリア�*・テル」序曲より (”William Tell” Overture)
侍戦隊シンケンジャー (Samurai Sentai Shikenger)
「カルメン」前奏曲 (”Carmen” Classical Music)
�*�み (Ayumi)
BUTTERFLY
雫 (Shizuku)
CAT’S EYE
HOT LIMIT
�*直になれたら (Sunao ni Naretara)
君を守って君を愛して (Kimi wo Mamotte Kimi wo Aishite
おどるポンポコリン (Odoru Ponpokorin)
Summer rain
空色デイズ (Sorairo Days)
Stairway Generation
創聖のアクエリオン (Sousei no Aquarion)
MY BOY
ブルーバード (Bluebird)
きみもとべるよ！（ピーターパン） (Kimi mo Toberu yo! (Peter Pan)
羞恥心 (Shuuchishin)
イッツ・ア・スモールワールド (It’s A Small World)
A Perfect Sky
ミッ�*ーマウス・クラブ・マーチ (Mickey Mouse March)
夢をかなえてドラえもん (Yume wo Kanae te Doraemon)

Keep in mind that Konami hasn’t listed artists with those songs, which probably indicates that a good portion, if not all, are covers. Many of these songs have been covered for Pop’n music or Jubeat already.

Other than that, Konami’s promising over 50 songs in the total list, so you can expect lots of Konami Originals to be filling up the list.

The game is set to be released on January 28th.

Key Features:

Enhanced Graphics – Enjoy classic Frogger gameplay with an amped-up new look.

About the Game:
In Academy of Champions: Soccer, players improve their skills, recruit new team members and build the best possible squad to defeat their rival Academy and win the champion cup. Compatible with the Wii Balance Board and Wii MotionPlus accessories, young soccer fans and their friends and family will enjoy playing together in a humorous, interactive universe that features over-the-top gameplay, entertaining fantastical environments, and innovative challenges. Game features include:

• Action-Packed 5-on-5 Party Soccer – Learn incredible moves that you never thought possible. Pickup-and-play controls make Academy of Champions playable by kids of all ages. Upgrade your skills and buy equipment to become the very best.

• Over 12 Mini-Games in a World Full of Excitement – Take part in easy-to-play mini-games involving goalkeeping, shooting, passing and tackles. Will you be able to master Brazilian Freestyle juggling with your Wii Balance Board?

• Pelé is your Headmaster – Discover the true value of fair play and respect. The legendary Pelé will guide you on your dream adventure and teach you the skills necessary to compete at the highest level.

• Immersive Story-Driven Experience – Develop your super skills in the imaginative world of Brightfield Academy. Battle your way to the top to defeat the evil Scythemore Academy!

• Multiplayer – Have a friend help you out on your adventure or challenge them head-to-head!

• Unlock Some Famous Video Game Characters – Take control of the Raving Rabbids, Sam Fisher, Altair, the Prince of Persia and Rayman who appear… as kids!

• Wii MotionPlus – Brand new peripheral is supported in core gameplay.

For more information about Academy of Champions: Soccer, please visit: www.academyofchampions.com

Shaun White partners with the team at Ubisoft Montreal to make sure the game is infused with authentic elements of his riding style, personality and sense of humor… All to create the most immersive snowboarding experience on the Nintendo Wii.

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage will be available on November 8, 2009 for Nintendo Wii!

For more information on Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, please visit:

www.shaunwhitegame.com

“Band Hero takes the critically acclaimed Guitar Hero 5 game features to new heights and delivers the most popular artists into your living room,” said Dan Rosensweig, president and chief executive officer of Guitar Hero. “As our first E10+ rated console game, Band Hero will become the new soundtrack to family game night.”

Hit the road with Band Hero as Nintendo DS Lite owners join the band with an all-new gameplay experience that allows full band play on-the-go for any combination of guitar, bass, drums and vocals. Featuring an exclusive set list, Band Hero for Nintendo DS Lite extends the renowned guitar-only gameplay from the Guitar Hero On Tour series to full band play with the introduction of the innovative Drum Grip and use of the built-in microphone for vocal play. Band Hero for Nintendo DS Lite players can also connect to the Wii version to unlock extra gameplay and content including Fan Request challenges.

Band Hero for Wii also features multiple exclusive game modes for Nintendo fans that will allow living room rock stars to interact with their music and friends in a new social gameplay experience. While players and their bands are rocking away on the Wii version of Band Hero, family and friends who own Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi can update and change the band’s set list on the fly giving them the ability to experience the performance they want in DS Party Play. Nintendo DS fans can virtually live the life of a band roadie thanks to Roadie Battle mode which allows up to two Nintendo DS players to connect with two Band Hero Wii guitarists for an intense competition of navigating from one side of the stage to the other trying to sabotage opponents’ equipment while repairing any damage to their own. Band Hero also features Mii Freestyle Mode made popular in Guitar Hero 5. In addition, an all-new drum kit controller featuring a slimmer, more sturdy design and quiet ‘floating’ drum heads will be available at launch, bundled exclusively with the Wii band kit version of Band Hero.

Band Hero also offers a great value to owners of multiple Guitar Hero games by allowing players to import select songs from Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero Smash Hits and Guitar Hero World Tour. In addition, Guitar Hero fans can play most of their purchased Guitar Hero World Tour or Guitar Hero 5 downloadable content in Band Hero, for a music library that consists of hundreds of tracks.

Brought to you by the makers of Guitar Hero, one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, Band Hero features the hottest chart-topping hits from everyone’s favorite bands including Fall Out Boy, Nelly Furtado, Lily Allen, The All-American Rejects and Jackson 5. Band Hero is the ultimate party game where friends and family can choose to join the band or “take five” at any time without interrupting the performance in Party Play mode. Band Hero allows fans to create the band of their dreams, using any combination of vocals and guitar or drum controllers, providing budding pop stars the chance to customize how they interact with and experience their favorite music.

In addition, Band Hero players can step into the spotlight as their own Xbox Avatar in the Xbox 360 version of the game. Taking full advantage of the latest technology available from Xbox LIVE online entertainment network, pop hopefuls can create the ultimate pop super-group and mix and match their Xbox Avatars with all-new character Quincy Styles, redesigned Guitar Hero favorites like Judy Nails, Midori and Axel Steel, or even alongside in-game talent.

Band Hero was developed by Neversoft Entertainment for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, by Vicarious Visions for the Nintendo DS Lite and Wii and by Budcat for the PlayStation 2 system.

Electronic Arts today announced that the award-winning Need for Speed NITRO is in stores across North America and will hit store shelves in Europe on November 6. Developed specifically for the Wii and Nintendo DS, Need for Speed NITRO brings an unrivaled sense of speed to the streets as players evade cops and take down competitors to become the world’s top racer.

“Need for Speed NITRO pushes the limits of racing on the Nintendo platforms to deliver the ultimate racer of the holiday,” said Joe Booth, Senior Producer. “With deep track designs and intense speeds, as well as accessible controls, NITRO promises insanely competitive races that will appeal to all levels of players.”

Need for Speed NITRO features a very diverse and impressive list of the world’s hottest muscle cars, exotics, and tuners including the Tesla Roadster, Pagani Zonda, Audi R8 and the Nissan Skyline. Players can custom-design their own ride with an incredibly deep yet intuitive visual customization system that lets players hit the streets in style with their personalized dream car. The game also includes unlockable cars that feature exclusive skins designed by lifestyle brands, tokidoki, Upper Playground and i am 8-bit.

Need for Speed NITRO delivers the thrill of high-speed racing to all types of gamers with exciting gameplay, accessible controls, and competitive multiplayer events including four player co-op career mode. Recently crowned IGN’s Best Racing Game on the Wii and Nintendo DS at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, Need for Speed NITRO is this holiday’s most fun and exciting arcade racing game.
Developed by EA Montreal, Need for Speed NITRO is available on the Wii and Nintendo DS.

During the Q&A session at a recent earnings briefing, Iwata told investors that Nintendo would begin a test program for WiiWare demos some time this month. The test will cover just a few titles.

According to Iwata, Nintendo is undertaking this test to see if it can get more players shopping on the Wii Shopping Channel. He admitted that the market for WiiWare and DSi Ware is currently small, with the Wii Shopping Channel and DSi Shop browsed only by people who already know the game they want to get.

Iwata also said that he doesn’t feel demos are necessarily the solution to the problem. He may or may not be right, but we’re sure some players would appreciate being able to try out certain WiiWare games in advance.

Nintendo hasn’t officially announced this WiiWare demo program just yet, so we don’t have specifics on titles or a start time frame. It’s also unclear if the test will be limited to Japan, or if Nintendo will let the entire world take part. Well, it’s about goddamn time Nintendo.

Once we hear the specifics, we’ll be sure and pass along the info to you.

Last month or so they announced “Jurassic: The Hunted” with very little fanfare and everyone pretty much assumed that even the “HD” versions would be awful so hope for the Wii version was pretty low, lower than even Quantum of Solace (which is actually a bad Wii game that some people like). Anyway here is footage of the Wii version of this Turok wannabe and while its hardly at the high end of FPS goodness that PC and none Wii console owners get, at least it looks better than Far Cry Wii & QoS. I would go as far as say that it looks better than Conduit (though to me that didn’t look that great anyway) but then thats not saying much at all.

Pretty sure most comments will be “blah blah N64 blah blah Dreamcast, blah blah Conduit was teh hawtness” mostly by people who have never seen a Dreamcast or N64 title but whatever. I’m still not expecting much from this title but at least the people porting the game has put some effort in there albeit in a game that looks like another generic FPS on whatever console its on.

http://www.manicmonkeymayhem.com/

Jump into the boots of Shaun and his crew of friends as they zig-zag across the globe competing against the World’s Best. Shaun White Snowboarding:World Stage has an intense focus on competition with more variety in settings, slope design and challenges. Race, trick, grind and grab air in unforgettable locations to which only Shaun’s crew has access — from a half-pipe in the middle of New York’s Times Square to the most incredible snowboarding mountains and competitions. Take your place on the World Stage!

Shaun White partners with the team at Ubisoft Montreal to make sure the game is infused with authentic elements of his riding style, personality and sense of humor… All to create the most immersive snowboarding experience on the Nintendo Wii.

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage will be available on November 8, 2009 for Nintendo Wii

For more information on Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, visit:

www.shaunwhitegame.com

Featuring a new wacky storyline, diverse gameplay, and intuitive controls, Rabbids Go Home has the zany Rabbids wreaking havoc on the Humans in pursuit of their quest to make it home…to the moon. The DS and DSi version will feature a different gameplay experience where players will solve a variety of puzzles and brain teasers in an effort to collect as much stuff as they can to build a giant pile all the way to the moon. Rabbids Go Home for the Wii is rated “E10+” for $49.99. Rabbids Go Home for the DS and DSi is rated “E” for $29.99.

Rabbids Go Home game features for the Nintendo Wii include:

• To the Moon or Bust! – Absurd & hilarious storyline that could only come from the Rabbids universe. Control two Rabbids and their shopping cart and collect varying sizes of human Stuff to build a sky-high pile of junk in their quest to reach the moon.

• In the Wii Remote – Gobble up Rabbids inside your Wii Remote and customize your very own Rabbid avatars to play with instantaneously…in-game!

• Over 40 Missions and 15 Environments in a World Full of Wackiness – Scour through supermarkets, race across rooftops, jet past airports and boost through the Bayou while scaring the Humans right down to their undies – literally!

• Wreak Havoc with a Friend in Co-Op Mode – Have a friend help you progress through the game thanks to both useful and hilarious “Cannonball/Stunt Rabbid” gameplay.

• Live Inside a Cartoon! – Encounter a cast of colorful, oddball characters and explore a remarkable parody of the modern world as if you were living inside an interactive cartoon!

Rabbids Go Home game features for the Nintendo DS and DSi include:

• The Rabbids First Puzzle-Adventure Game: The Raving Rabbids, using a shopping cart, will have to solve the puzzle of each level and collect as much stuff as they can to build a giant pile to their home… the moon!

• Stir up funny chain reactions in 150 brain teasers based on physics and funny Rabbids characters. The goal is to lead a shopping cart to the Toilets, collecting as many maximum resources as possible on the way.

• 15 tricky levels to actually build a huge pile to the moon: Test your reflexes and your skills with the stylus!

• Challenge mode: Four delirious challenge modes of 20 levels each, apart from the story mode and with different rules and objectives. Create hilarious situations by getting rid of those Raving Rabbids or making them fly! But be careful to not miss the TV show.

• Exclusive level editor: Create your own puzzles and share them with your friends and the whole RGH community! Also download other players’ puzzles for hours of additional gameplay.

• My Rabbids (only on Nintendo DSi): Use the camera to take a picture, and customize it with funny Rabbid animations to make your friends laugh!

For more information about Rabbids Go Home, visit the official website: http://www.rabbids.com

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is set to frighten Wii owners in North America on November 17th, and Halloween weekend marks the launch of the final section on the official website.

An interactive experience which allows players to shoot zombies on the site, the official website sends players on a journey through each environment fans can expect out of the new thrilling arcade shooter. With the Resident Evil 2 and Code Veronica sections already revealed, the final phase takes players to the brand new area in the Resident Evil franchise, South America.

In the new South America stage, play as Leon S. Kennedy and Jack Krauser, as they search for the mysterious leader of the drug cartel known as the Sacred Snakes, Javier Hidalgo. After playing the experience, check out exclusive new storyline info, along with gameplay videos and trailers, and if you have the skills to get a high enough score, nab yourself some exclusive wallpapers and iPhone skins.

Check out the official site at www.residentevil.com/darkside

And while fans wont be able to get the game until November 17th, they can live vicariously through Leon and Krauser as they go through the horrific experience and tweet their progress along the way on Twitter.

Follow them both on twitter to get the inside scoop on what’s going on in South America.

Leon S. Kennedy: www.twitter.com/leon_darkside

Jack Krauser: www.twitter.com/jack_darkside

If you’re on the PC, join LITTLEST PET SHOP ONLINE’S Bark ‘n’ Boo Costume Bash at www.LPSO.com Waggington is absolutely spooktacular this time of year! A world full of pumpkin fun, bobbing for apples, and adorable dressed-up pets are waiting for you. Go on a search for very special LPSO pumpkins that, when “sniffed”, may give you a trick…or a treat!

Konami is promising the title will hold true to its zany Japanese origins, in which the game has businessman Hitoshi Susumu behind schedule and running uncontrollably through nine different levels such as the moon, a jungle, the city and more while flipping over cars, riding dinosaurs and other quirky acts.

Tomena Sanner’s gameplay is heavily based on timing and at certain intervals, the player will have to take part in dance parties, which, obviously, feature rhythm-based actions. As players contend with samurais, T-rexes, cowboys and other characters, the game is controlled with a single button (remember that Mr. Susumu runs on his own and refuses to stop) that players can use in tandem with a timing-based control system while they jump, dance and fly past obstacles. One of the other more unique aspects of the title is a real-time ticker that scrolls with remarks based on the player’s performance. The game will also feature a multiplayer mode which will have up to four players racing against each other to the finish line.

Players will find a number of modes in the title such as an endless mode, an expert turbo mode and leaderboards. There is a domesticated trailer on the game’s official site, link below.

http://www.konami.com/games/tomenasanner

Here is the review i did for the Japanese version of the game.

Wii:

Japan
Wii Fit Plus 2009/10/1
Sin and Punishment 2(Temp.) 2009/10/29
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games™* 2009/11/5
New Super Mario Bros. Wii 2009/12/3
NHK Kohaku Quiz Gassen 2009/12/17
Cosmic Walker(Temp.) 2009
Kensakusu(Temp.) 2009
Span Smasher(Temp.) 2009
Dynamic Zan(Temp.) 2009
100 Go de Start! Eikaiwa(Temp.) 2009
Hoshi no Kirby(Temp.) 2009
Line Attack Heroes(Temp.) 2009
Monado: Beginning of The World(Temp.) TBA
METROID: Other M(Temp.) TBA
Super Mario Galaxy 2(Temp.) TBA

United States
Wii Fit Plus 2009/10/4
New Super Mario Bros. Wii 2009/11/15
Sin and Punishment 2(Temp.) CY2010 1st Quarter
Endless Ocean 2(Temp.) CY2010 1st Quarter
METROID: Other M 2010
Super Mario Galaxy 2(Temp.) 2010
Span Smasher(Temp.) TBA
Line Attack Heroes(Temp.) TBA
Monado: Beginning of The World(Temp.) TBA

Europe
Wii Fit Plus 2009/10/30
New Super Mario Bros. Wii 2009/11/20
Endless Ocean 2(Temp.) 2010
Sin and Punishment 2(Temp.) 2010
Spring Super Mario Galaxy 2(Temp.) 2010
METROID: Other M(Temp.) 2010

NINTENDO DS:

Japan
Mario & Sonic At the Olympic Winter Games 2009/11/19
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks 2009/12/23
Famicom Wars DS2(Temp.) 2009
Golden Sun DS(Temp.) TBA

United States
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky 2009/10/12
Style Savvy 2009/11/2
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks 2009/12/7
Pokémon HeartGold Version 2010 Spring
Pokémon SoulSilver Version 2010 Spring
Glory of Heracles 2010
Golden Sun DS(Temp.) 2010
WarioWare D.I.Y. TBA
Picross 3D TBA

Europe
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story 2009/10/9
Nintendo presents: Style Boutique 2009/10/23
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky 2009/11/20
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks 2009/12/11
Pokémon HeartGold Version 2010 Spring
Pokémon SoulSilver Version 2010 Spring
WarioWare D.I.Y. TBA

Nintendo notes that titles are release dates are subject to change.

Up for purchase are:

Foo Fighters – “Best of You”

· Foo Fighters – “The Pretender”

· Foo Fighters – “Wheels”

· Foo Fighters – “Word Forward”

· Nirvana – “About a Girl”

· Nirvana – “Blew”

· Nirvana – “School”

· Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – “Fake Friends”

On the Xbox 360 and PS3 they’ll appear as “Nirvana Bleach Pack,” “Foo Fighters Pack 03″ and, as per usual, as individual tracks on the Wii.

The PSP’s Rock Band Unplugged will be getting Bullet For My Valentine – “Walking the Demon” and System of a Down – “Toxicity.”

The leaked specs denote the Wii 2 will get a Blu-ray drive (mainly to stop piracy), but will also support 1080P for games as well as movies. The new system is due out during the third quarter of next year and there will be the option to trade in old Wii’s!

This is not an official Nintendo graphic. This graphic is for illustration purposes.

More details below (translated from French):

This is a nice exclusive we have here at MaxConsole courtesy of Artik from www.Logic-sunrise.com on the Wii 2. The actual information is said to have been leaked from an internal source of the marketing Nintendo France Service. Unlucky for them, this kind of information should stay internal, but that’s not our philosophy.

* The Wii2 system will feature a Blu-Ray drive with a secondary aim of stopping piracy.
* 1080P and lower resolutions will be supported, for blu-ray movies and games.
* The release date is scheduled for third quarter of 2010.
* The release will be worldwide and on the same day for all countries.
*A scheme will be available in which it is possible to trade in the original Wii for a cheaper price on the new Wii 2.

Moreover, Nintendo wants to make a worlwide annoucement, only one month before release date. Huge publicity and Viral Marketing will be utilized to create the Buzz. Official pictures are not yet available, and more specs will be released in due course.

Why should you believe it? (This is the Internet after all.)

* Artik from Logic-Sunrise.com has regularly provided news to MaxConsole and has a lot of ‘insider’ contacts.
* Nintendo has suggested that it’s time they embraced high definition technology for the Wii and Blu-ray has firmly established itself. So a Wii 2 with Blu-ray support does make sense.

Friends and family members will have boundless fun mastering games in three different modes: TV Guide, Zapping, and Marathon. Featuring eight differently-themed channels, TV Guide mode challenges players to beat high scores to unlock more games and earn bonus prizes to decorate their player profiles with. Zapping mode provides instant access to any currently unlocked game. Up to four players can join the party in Marathon mode where everyone plays five randomly selected games in a row and competes for the highest score! Players can take on the one hundred and one challenges alone to access every last game, or make it a family competition, and see who can unlock the most games. Up to four profiles can be saved per console so each player’s individual progress is maintained.

Boasting one hundred and one games, three different modes, four profiles, the ability to play alone or with friends, and priced at just $19.99, 101-in-1 Party Megamix offers endless family-friendly variety, replayability, and value!

For more information about 101-in-1 Party Megamix and to view the trailers plus colorful screenshots, please visit the website: http://www.atlus.com/101party

For one hundred and one games on the go, check out 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix for Nintendo DS. This quality collection of easy to play yet tough to master mini games that everyone can enjoy, is also available in thousands of electronic, video game, online, and discount stores. For more on 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix for Nintendo DS, visit the website http://www.atlus.com/101

Prequel to the game that started a multi-million dollar franchise, Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil Zero exposes the back story and internal tyranny of the Umbrella Corporation and lets players discover the origins of the T-Virus in an epic storyline that tells the horrors leading up to the infamous mansion incident.

Only available on the Nintendo GameCube until now, Resident Evil Zero brings Rebecca Chambers – rookie member of S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team – to Raccoon City , where she must investigate a series of gruesome murders. Almost immediately she stumbles upon a military transport truck filled with corpses and her journey of horror begins.

Along the way Rebecca meets Billy Coen, an ex-Marine convicted on circumstantial evidence for the murder of 23 people. Players will get to control both Rebecca and Billy simultaneously using the Partner Zapping system, as they fight their way out of Raccoon City in the last of the main titles to use the original Resident Evil gameplay system prior to Resident Evil 4.

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2 for the Wii brings five top-selling favorites to the console platform, including: OPERATION, JENGA, BOP IT, PICTUREKA, and CONNECT 4X4. Up to four players can jump into original gameplay modes for each of the games or they can enjoy new modes which include “JENGA Chance Blocks” where players hammer escaping blocks or remove “Bomb Blocks” before they explode. The title also offers a GameShow Party mode, where players are transported to a live GameShow in front of an in-game studio audience, with MR. POTATO HEAD as the host, while players play as their own Wii Mii characters. As host, MR. POTATO HEAD beckons players to spin the Challenge Wheel to determine which game they will play.

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2 for the Wii carries an MSRP of $39.99 and HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT for the Nintendo DS has an MSRP of $29.99. Both titles are rated E for Everyone.

For more information, visit http://hasbrofamilygamenight.ea.com

“iCarly encourages creativity with its great characters and storylines,” said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. “The iCarly video game incorporates these elements from the TV show into an energetic gameplay experience that is non-stop entertainment!”

“Part of what has made iCarly the top show with kids and teens is allowing them to participate in their viewing experience through the website,” said Steve Youngwood, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. “This game extends that concept even further by tapping into kids’ creativity to provide them with endless fun.”

In the iCarly video game, players help Carly, Sam, Freddie and the other characters from the hit TV series craft all-new “webisodes” of the show in an original storyline written exclusively for the game. Over 80 frenetic challenges–presented as show segments – capture the creativity of the series, and allow players to collaborate with the show’s main characters through new adventures. The innovative iCreate mode provides opportunities for gamers to add their own unique touches to the webisodes by swapping out props, characters, color schemes, audio, intros, outros and more. Up to four players can either compete or cooperate together on Wii to complete the skits and earn Web-Cred, which can then be used to purchase new items, props, accessories and locations from in-game virtual websites.

Nickelodeon’s iCarly – a web show within a show – ranks as the number-one program on all of television with kids between the ages of 2 to 11, year to date.

For more information on the iCarly videogame, visit www.activision.com

After getting the e-mail, simply go to the Wii Shop and enter the code in the correct section (under “Options”) to unlock the game and start your download. From then on, it’ll function just like a WiiWare game, appearing under your downloaded games and whatnot.

As expected, the game is pretty much an extension to the retail game – you can fight Doc Louis in three different modes (Warm-up, Training and Sparring), each making him a little bit harder. This means that both newcomers and veterans alike should be able to beat Doc, which is something most of us have been waiting for for over 20 years!

Let’s have a show of hands, who can beat him on the highest difficulty? Carl Winslow is no slouch, he’s tough to take down. I sat last night playing through this, and it’s certainly a nice challenge.

In addition, Ubisoft is also hoping to entice people with Jenny McCarthy who will be the game’s guide and the player’s workout partner. Look for Jenny and Your Shape on the Wii on November 24th.

Featuring electrifying gameplay that incorporates the fundamentals of DJing in a fun and accessible format, and booming tracks from Rihanna to The Killers; Marvin Gaye to Daft Punk; Queen to the Black Eyed Peas, DJ Hero provides consumers an opportunity to interact and listen to music unlike ever before. Heightening the euphoric experience, the DJ Hero Renegade Edition delivers exclusive special edition hardware and a limited edition CD collaboration between two cultural icons – JAY-Z, the most successful solo recording artist of all time and hip hop legend, EMINEM – introducing unreleased material from EMINEM and JAY-Z’s first ever “best of” compilation.

Tatsunoko VS Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars ships to retailers in the U.S. exclusively for the Wii on Jan. 26, 2010.

“There were high expectations for NERF “N-Strike” Elite from consumers and retailers based on last year’s game success so we upped the ante across every facet of the experience,” said Chip Lange, General Manager and Vice President of EA’s Hasbro Division. “NERF “N-Strike” Elite delivers even deeper gameplay and customization elements, unlocks a new arsenal of blasters, and serves up high adrenaline missions for action seekers of all ages. In addition to the blaster, we added another accessory to the bundle – a decoder lens which adds a new layer of immersive and interactive NERF game play.”

Players kick-off the NERF “N-Strike” Elite action by choosing from four characters, each with unique blasters and special abilities. As part of a four-person team, they are tasked with completing a series of increasingly challenging missions with the ultimate end-goal of destroying an army of robots led by B.O.B., who has been rebuilt and is much tougher than in the first NERF “N-Strike” game. Players can arm themselves with more than a dozen real and never-before-seen NERF blasters that are unlocked as they progress through the game. Each blaster, including Hasbro’s new NERF N-STRIKE RAIDER RAPID FIRE CS 35 which makes its first game debut, offers individual strengths and weaknesses adding tactical strategy to NERF “N-Strike” Elite.

As players progress through several indoor and outdoor levels, they encounter glowing canisters that they can blast to collect points to use toward customization, such as increasing the firing speed and changing the color of the blasters. Players can also use their points to “purchase” in-game upgrades like scopes, lasers, and dart with custom colored trails or whistles.

Players have the option of going solo through the levels or teaming up with a friend in two-player co-operative play for the entire campaign. In this mode, teamwork is rewarded as players encounter areas of the game that they can only enter as a team of two. In these environments, cooperation is required to unlock special Elite Moments, where action intensifies and unique unlockable items and hidden codes can be found.

NERF “N-Strike” Elite comes bundled with a NERF SWITCH SHOT EX-3 blaster that offers two ways to play. Players can snap the Wii Remote into the chamber of the blaster and use it for in-game play or alternatively, swap in the dart cartridge to transform the blaster for classic NERF play. The second accessory component is a brand new Red Reveal lens that attaches to the blaster and is used to uncover hidden messages within the game that allows players to find hidden unlock codes and expose enemy weak spots.

“The launch of NERF “N-Strike” Elite is the perfect way to round out the 40th anniversary of the powerhouse NERF brand,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Gaming and Media at Hasbro. “EA and Hasbro continue to push the boundaries in terms of re-imagining the NERF experience for the digital consumer and together, we’ve integrated accessories inspired by the NERF toy line to deliver an amazing 3-in-1 bundle that will be a big hit with boys this holiday season.”

NERF “N-Strike” Elite is available at retail and priced at $59.99. The game is rated E10+. For more information, visit http://nerf.ea.com

Just Dance track list:
•       Acceptable in the 80’s – Calvin Harris
•       A Little Less Conversation – Elvis Presley
•       Bebe – Divine Brown
•       Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue
•       Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex
•       Hot n’ Cold – Katy Perry
•       Dare – Gorillaz
•       Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (Rocky)
•       Fame – In the style of Irene Cara (cover)
•       Funplex CSS – The B 52’s
•       Girls and Boys – Blur
•       Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cindi Lauper
•       Groove is in the Heart – Dee-Lite
•       Heart of Glass – Blondie
•       I Get Around – The Beach Boys
•       I Like to Move it – Reel To Real
•       Jerk it Out – Caesars
•       Jin Go Lo Ba – Fat Boy Slim
•       Kids in America – Kim Wilde
•       Le Freak – Chic
•       Louie Louie – Iggy Pop
•       Lump – The Presidents Of The USA
•       Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp
•       Pump up the Jam – Technotronic
•       Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
•       Step by Step – New Kids On The Block
•       Surfin’ Bird – The Trashmen
•       That’s the Way (I Like it) – Kc & The Sunshine Band
•       U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer
•       Wannabe – The Spice Girls
•       Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men
•       Womanizer – In the style of Britney Spears (cover)

“We gave a very specific attention to the selection of the tracks in Just Dance” said John Parkes, EMEA marketing director at Ubisoft.  ”Each of the 32 tunes, along with its unique choreography, is linked to the history of music and dance. From Elvis Presley to Katy Perry, from soul to techno, rock to disco, Just Dance tracklist gathers major artists and genres from the 60’s to nowadays, so everyone will find a song they love and want to dance on.”

Utilizing the Wii Remote, Just Dance is the first real dance video-game. Up to four people can dance simultaneously, as they follow choreographed moves, that were developed with professional dancers.

For more information about Just Dance visit www.justdancegame.com.

“SimAnimals Africa transports players to the African wilderness where they must restore the balance of nature to win the game,” said Tim LeTourneau, General Manager of the SimAnimals Franchise. “Throughout their journey, they’ll interact with exotic animals, learn to unlock their unique abilities, discover new locations, and uncover interesting collectables. It brings the current focus on the environment home in a safe and entertaining way.”

SimAnimals Africa for the Wii allows players to interact with wild African animals while they venture across jungles, deserts, savannas, river deltas and more. Each brand new animal has their own unique skill and it’s up to the player to find their secret abilities. Kicking zebras, rock-breaking rhinos and crocodiles that excel at hunting are all part of the cast of characters that will assist players in keeping the environment happy and help them unlock new areas, animals, and special items. Mini-games give players more ways to interact with the animals. The ring toss, drumming, and petting games help the animals hone their unique skill and assist players in achieving their goals more quickly. Additionally, there are over five dozen rare objects for players to collect including bugs, fruits and flowers. If players feed one of these rare items to an animal they may get an unexpected surprise. Players can now choose to play as an animal as well where they can water the terrain as an elephant, kick fruit off trees as a zebra or jump over riverbeds as a gazelle.

SimAnimals Africa on the Nintendo DS allows players to bring the African adventure with them anywhere and play with friends. Featuring all of the animals included in the Wii adventure, the Nintendo DS version also features exclusive animals including cheetahs, meerkats, aardvarks, a parrot and even a surprise secret animal as a reward for finishing the game. Build relationships with these wild, African animals, discover their secret abilities and use them to help solve challenges. Collect items to earn each reward badge in the game. The stylus and microphone allow players to interact with the animals and environment in a totally unique way. A friendly parrot is the guide through the African landscape—players can talk to the parrot through the Nintendo DS microphone and hear their words repeated back. Kids will conquer the African kingdom in co-op mode, where they can trade plants and animals and play together with friends to achieve goals faster.

Developed by The Sims Studio in the EA Play Label, SimAnimals Africa is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB, 3+ by PEGI, and has an MSRP of $39.99 and $29.99 for the Wii and Nintendo DS, respectively. For more information about SimAnimals Africa, visit www.simanimalsafrica.com

Shimano Xtreme Fishing lets you take the fight to the fish either traditionally with rod and reel, or up close and personal with spear gun and SCUBA, or bow and arrow. Fast play makes Shimano Xtreme Fishing a wild ride from the start, and robust multiplayer options make it an ideal party game or way to spend time with your fishing buddies.

Players will be well-equipped with cutting-edge fishing gear like Shimano Voltaeus fishing rods, Hoyt bows, AMS Bowfishing reels and accessories, and Muzzy arrow points. Armed with the very best in extreme fishing gear, players will navigate massive environments filled with more than 50 varieties of fish and dangerous predators like sharks, piranhas, and alligators.

Shimano Xtreme Fishing guides players, by boat or SCUBA, through exotic environments ranging from the cold, dark waters of a North American reservoir to a roaring Amazon waterfall, eerie submerged Mayan ruins, the hidden lagoons of a southern island, and the shark-infested shipwrecks of a tropical sea. Whether it’s a vigorous fish fight with traditional rod-and-reel tackle, aiming a bow and arrow at fast moving fish, or venturing into the dangerous depths with SCUBA gear and a spear gun, there’s never a dull moment in Shimano Xtreme Fishing.

Shimano Xtreme Fishing includes a series of challenging tournaments, each with beautiful scenery and unique weather conditions. As players progress through the levels, they will unlock new tackle, clothing and sporting accessories. With three careers, 12 tournaments and more than 65 stages, Shimano Xtreme Fishing gives players hours of non-stop fishing action. Players looking for a more open-ended fishing trip can roam the vast environments in search of new hot spots while mastering their gear of choice in Free Fish mode. Multiplayer mode allows up to four players to compete against another kind of predator–humans–on their way to fish-hunting glory.

Shimano Xtreme Fishing is available at retailers throughout North America for $29.99. For more information, please visit the official Shimano Xtreme Fishing Web site at http://www.sxf-game.com

In the latest chapter, Guybrush finds himself in the belly of the beast (literally) as his quest for the voodoo exfoliating La Esponja Grande takes him through the guts of a giant sea manatee!

Check out the trailer video below.

Shaun White partners with the team at Ubisoft Montreal to make sure the game is infused with authentic elements of his riding style, personality and sense of humor… All to create the most immersive snowboarding experience on the Nintendo Wii.

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage will be available on November 8, 2009 for Nintendo Wii

The Wii and DS are also getting four games in the “Charm Girls Club” franchise where girls create their own Charm Girl to traverse treacherous dungeons, save the planet from inevitable doom and collect shiny virtual charms for their virtual jewel boxes (with the game being still in development, some parts of the game are subject to change). The Wii will be getting Charm Girls Club Pajama Party while the DS will be getting a trio of Charm Girls Club games: My Fashion Mall, Perfect Prom and My Fashion Show. All four games will feature mini-games, puzzles, and co-op play.

We have received a gameplay video featuring Henry as a playable character in No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle. Fans of the original No More Heroes will remember Henry as Travis Touchdown’s mysterious twin brother. Check it out below.

Grammy Award-nominated American metal rocker and former White Zombie frontman Rob Zombie adds to his Rock Band DLC catalog (currently “War Zone”) with three new tracks for the Rock Band platform, including “Dragula” and “Superbeast,” from his debut solo album, Hellbilly Deluxe, as well as “Burn,” from his new album, Hellbilly Deluxe 2, to be released Nov. 17. Zombie also has a film currently playing in theaters – Halloween 2, which he wrote, directed and produced.

Australian rock trio Wolfmother adds to their Rock Band DLC as well (currently “Joker & The Thief”) with a five pack of songs, including the 2007 Grammy Award-winning “Woman” and “White Unicorn,” from the band’s self-titled debut album. Also featured in the Wolfmother five pack are “Sundial” and “Pilgrim,” from the band’s new album, Cosmic Egg, which was released Oct. 23.

Liz Phair’s “Rock Me,” as well as Morningwood’s “Sugarbaby” and “Best of Me,” which was featured as the theme song to VH1’s reality series Daisy of Love, will also be added to the Rock Band Music Store Oct. 27, the same day and date that Morningwood’s second album, Diamonds and Studs, which features both DLC songs, is out.

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Oct. 27) and PlayStation 3 system (Oct. 29):

· Rob Zombie – “Burn”
· Rob Zombie – “Dragula”
· Rob Zombie – “Superbeast”
· Wolfmother – “New Moon Rising”
· Wolfmother – “Pilgrim”
· Wolfmother – “Sundial”
· Wolfmother – “White Unicorn”
· Wolfmother – “Woman”
· Liz Phair – “Rock Me”
· Morningwood – “Best of Me” *
· Morningwood – “Sugarbaby” *

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Rob Zombie Pack 01,” “Wolfmother Pack 01” and as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system and as individual tracks on Wii.

Price:

$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$5.49, £2.49 UK, €3.99 EU (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Rob Zombie Pack 01”
$8.49 £5.25 UK, €6.59 EU (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Wolfmother Pack 01”
*Denotes $0.99 £0.59 UK, €0.79 EU (80 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) or $1.00 (100 Wii Points) per track
$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points) per track

Rock Band Unplugged Tracks for PSP System
Rock Band Unplugged fans will enjoy the addition of Sonic Youth’s “Kool Thing” and Steely Dan’s “My Old School” to the 51 tracks already available via the Rock Band Unplugged in-game music store for the PSP system.

Tracks available for Rock Band Unplugged (Oct. 29):

Sonic Youth – “Kool Thing”
Steely Dan – “My Old School”

Price:
$1.99, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU per track on the PSP system

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

From the previous Monkey Island games comes Stan, flailing limbs, sombrero and all. Telltale is also bringing back their annual Halloween contest where the winner will get to nab a game console of their choice. (Click here to participate before it’s too late!) And while there’s little extra information about Chapter 4 of Tales of Monkey Island, players will be able to see it all for themselves by the end of next week.

Muramasa sold almost 30K units in it’s first week in Japan (putting it in at number two, all-consoles) and 52,000 in it’s first week in the U.S. (Beating Dead Space Extraction’s sales).

In the UK, the game will NOT be available to buy in the majority of video game retail outlets. It is because retail is becoming increasingly choosy and actively reducing the variety that is offered to consumers – if it is not first-party, a sequel or supported by a multi-million pound advertising spend, they are just not interested.

Ironically, these stores will happily accept Muramasa as part of a trade-in deal and the game will retail for half the price of its first launch with weeks.

It’s great to see that Muramasa did so well during its first week in the U.S. Obviously, NPD numbers didn’t show the full details on that side of things. Second, they will stock Ninjabread Man and not this. Go figure.

Taiko no Tatsujin Wii Dodon to 2 Daime! will be both released as an individual title as well as a bundled version that comes with the game and a Tatakon (Taiko Drum controller) that plugs into the bottom of the Wiimote. The game also includes a new “Boss Battle” mode. This mode features your classic Taiko gameplay of hitting notes as they appear on the target line, but enemies will now step in and attempt block your notes and throw off your rhythm. You’ll also find bomb notes, which when tapped, will give damage to the player.

It’s priced at ¥5,040 when solo, and ¥7,980 when bundled with the Taiko drum controller.

Still no word on whether the series will come to Wii in the states, but Namco-Bandai are known to be looking into it. In fact they seem to be researching ways in which they can provide the all important Taiko drum at little cost and risk in the Western market… I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Screens below.

Level maps can scroll vertically, horizontally
Quick-save feature
Classic Mario sounds also play on the Wiimote speaker
Fight each Koopa Kid twice in each world
The first fight is a traditional fight, the second has Kamek fly in and change conditions
Fireballs don’t work as well on bosses this time around
Yoshi does not stay with you after completing a level

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is scheduled for release on November 15th, 2009 in the states.

The game has received much praise at this year’s E3 Expo and looks to be a great turn-based RPG addition to the Wii’ game library. You can check out the full details in the official press release below for more information.

Arc Rise Fantasia, winner of the “Best Wii RPG” from IGN at E3 2009, is a new turn-based RPG with a beautiful, anime-inspired Japanese art style. Players will jump into the shoes of L’Arc, a calm and composed mercenary, who sets out to defend the Meridian Empire from an impending invasion of ferocious creatures. After assembling a party of friends, each with a unique set of abilities, players will embark on a perilous journey across an overworld filled with deadly enemies and treacherous dungeons. While strategically queuing up attacks, players can summon mystical creatures and work with their party members to execute massive attacks.

“We are absolutely thrilled to bring Arc Rise Fantasia to a western audience,” said Shane Bettenhausen, New Business Development Director of Ignition Entertainment. “It’s an ambitious Japanese role-playing game with deep gameplay, top-notch production values, and an unforgettable story line–Wii owners have been pining for a massive fantasy epic and their patience will definitely be rewarded.”

“In Arc Rise Fantasia we’ve implemented a fun and quick paced battle system to give gamers an enjoyable RPG experience,” said Hiroyuki Kanemaru of Image Epoch. “Ignition Entertainment has a great track record with bringing established Japanese experiences to new western audiences and we’re delighted to be able to team up with them to publish Arc Rise Fantasia.”

Additional information about the game can be found at the game’s official website:
www.arcrisefantasia.com

Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth is priced at 1000 Wii Points. Expect a video review from me of course. I can’t wait for this to come out.

CSI: Deadly Intent is available in stores on October 27th for Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and PC.

Also available on the Nintendo DS – CSI: Deadly Intent – The Hidden Cases:
Solve four additional exclusive cases through an enhanced questioning system and game mechanics with unique touch game play. Feel like a real CSI character with heart-pounding interrogations, stylish visuals and a unique story structure that unveils the shocking truth when all the cases are linked together.

CSI: Deadly Intent – The Hidden Cases is available in stores on October 27th.

]]> http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/csi-deadly-intent-behind-the-scenes-video/feed 1 http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/over-100-million-sold http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/over-100-million-sold#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:21:44 +0000 Joe Santiago http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/over-100-million-sold Electronic Arts has announced that the Need For Speed series of street racing, cop escaping, sports car mayhem has surpassed 100 million copies sold. EA has self-proclaimed the series to be the “best-selling racing brand in the gaming world.”

The series has seen 15 titles released across 14 different platforms including three titles that have been released this year alone: Shift, Turbo, and World Online. EA is rightfully excited and proud of the series, which has earned the developer a cool $2.7 Billion USD since it first arrived on the scene in 1994 for the 3DO. Congratulations to EA and Need for Speed!

For more information on Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, please visit:
www.shaunwhitegame.com

The Beatles: Rock Band already contains a number of songs from Abbey Road, making this DLC complete the entire album. The pack will include “You Never Give Me Your Money,” “Sun King,”  “Mean Mr. Mustard,” “Polythene Pam,” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The End.”

The album will be available for the Xbox 360 on October 20th and for the PS3 on October 22nd priced at $16.99 USD or 1360 Microsoft Points. It will also be available for the Wii on October 20th at a price of 200 Wii Points ($2 USD) per track.

The albums Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Rubber Soul are also in the works and will be available in November and December respectively.

The game is titled “Poke Park Wii Pikachu no Daibouken” (Pikachu’s Big Adventure), which seems to be an action rpg. The 3D game stars the adorable and adored by millions, Pikachu. Poke Park Wii is developed by Nintendo subsidiary Creatures and will be released on December 5th in Japan for ¥4,800 (That’s roughly 54 bucks American) I was hoping for Pokemon Snap 2. Stop torturing me Nintendo! Regardless, this looks like fun. No word on a U.S. release date yet of course, but it’s Pokemon. It’ll come.

Screens below.

As is stands now, these are exclusive to Japan. Be jealous yet again, America. =/

Players will be able to dance to the beat of an expansive library of over 40 great songs, including the following hits recorded by the original artists:

Ne-Yo- “Closer”
Coldplay- “Viva La Vida”
Rick Astley- “Never Gonna Give You Up”
Lady Gaga- “Just Dance”
Depeche Mode – “Enjoy The Silence”
Vanilla Ice- “Ice Ice Baby”
Natasha Bedingfield- “Pocket Full of Sunshine”
Pitbull- “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”
Black Eyed Peas- Let’s Get it Started”

Also included are over 20 tracks of original music composed by the Bemani development team.

As you can tell, DanceDanceRevolution is sure to be the life of the party and get you into shape with outrageous multiplayer fun, a huge smash hit soundtrack including licensed master tracks and originals, entirely new modes and more!

In the latest Wii version, DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 3, players will be introduced to Balance Board Mode. In this high energy, low impact mode, players trade their feet to utilize their hips, waist and hands with the Wii Balance Board and Nunchuk. This all new mode will be sure to add a whole new level of gameplay to DanceDanceRevolution. Players still will be able to use their DanceDanceRevolution controller mat for classic gameplay.

DanceDanceRevolution X2, for PlayStation 2, introduces the brand new Dice Master Mode where players roll the dice to receive a dance challenge and compete to be the ultimate DanceDanceRevolution champion.

If players really would like to put their DanceDanceRevolution skills to the test against the nation’s best, they can compete in the DanceDanceRevolution national tournament taking place through December 2009 in select cities across the country. The best of the best will compete in a high-stakes dance off in select GameWorks locations nationwide, culminating in the DanceDanceRevolution finals in Las Vegas.

DanceDanceRevolution will be available on October 27, 2009. For screenshots, complete tracklistings and more, visit http://www.konami.com/ddr

The full song list for DDR Hottest Party 3 is below.

NITRO also features a soundtrack full of “adrenaline-charged” music to help keep your pedal to the ground. Artists such k-os, Placebo, and Crystal Method are in the mix.

The full track listing is as such:
“Another One Bites the Dust”
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
“Fat Bottomed Girls”
“I Want It All”
“I Want to Break Free”
“Killer Queen”
“One Vision”
“Somebody to Love
“Tie Your Mother Down”
“Under Pressure”

The songs will be available for purchase as single tracks, or as a full package. They will add to the current Rock Band database consisting of 910 downloadable tracks released since the game hit shelves in 2007.