Gaming Console Platform

Here’s a stern warning coming from Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH and Play.com: Players found cheating in Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PC, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS)’s online tournament matches will be disqualified from the competition and will be banned for a year from the online ranking system.

This statement was issued following the ban of one of the game’s leading online players due to cheating. Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH did not elaborate on the details, but stressed its commitment to keep its turf clean.

An online tournament is currently going on to honor pre-order promises to the game’s customers. Under the pre-order promo, everyone who ordered the game in advance would receive an invitation to join the PES 2008 tilt. Finalists will be flown to Wembley on March 15th to 16th, 2008 for the grand finals.

At stake during the championship round is a whopping 50,000. Add to that the bragging rights involved, and it gives you an idea of what motivated some to do a bit of dirty work to grease the wheels.

Few athletes in the world can say they’re living the high life the way NBA superstars can. That’s the core concept of Midway’s NBA Ballers: The Chosen One (Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360). Departing from strict, sin-style hoops, the devs are focusing on following the lifestyle of basketball’s elite players and letting the average gamer experience it all.

One of the perks of being an NBA star is having fellow superstar buddies meet you up in the most exclusive hotspots around America’s major cities. This penthouse trailer shows you how pro ballers duke it out one-on-one in places many of us only dream of visiting.

As you can see, the visuals in this clip are top-notch. We’re hoping that the gameplay and features will be just as sweet. This is a nice opportunity for even non-basketball fans to have arcade-style hoops fun with a flavor of role-playing tossed in. Stand by for more on this rookie sensation.

Buy: [NBA Ballers: The Chosen One (PS3)]
Buy: [NBA Ballers: The Chosen One (Xbox 360)]

Video games are fun, and becoming more popular over time, but who knew it could actually beat sex as a past time in the bedroom? According to a new survey in the UK, people spend more time playing with video games than have sex in their bedrooms.

From a poll of 2,000, sex only ranked at 10th place. Now, while this is an interesting result, let’s think about it for a minute. We have to take into account that the survey ranks according to how long people actually spend on the activity.

Taking physical exhaustion into account, people (at least, at large) just can’t spend as much time having sex than playing video games because they can’t. Even bunnies can’t last as long as most people spend on a single go at Final Fantasy.

Some may actually find it funny that people can spend more time on the phone than they do on video games. The most popular activity, according to the survey, is (surprise,surprise,) sleeping.

Here are the rest of the results of the survey, ranked according to how many minutes per week people spend doing the activity:

1. Sleep (3,150)
2. Talking (193)
3. TV (132)
4. Net surfing (122)
5. Reading (114)
6. Listening to music (105)
7. Using phone (81)
8. Work (77)
9. Computer games (57)
10. Sex (35)

Compared to last week’s releases, we’ll be facing a more discreet batch this time. Surely, it’s difficult to look away from Super Smash Bros. Brawl now that it’s out in the market. If you can resist the charms of the Nintendo all-star fighting game, Condemned 2: Bloodshot can quench your thirst for hurting someone. It’s not all about melees, however, since there’s a good dose of lighthearted fantasy in the mix, thanks to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates.

Level-headed gamers who want to put their strategic thinking to the test have numerous prospects highlighted by Wild Arms XF. Sports fans won’t be left behind with the release of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, the latest entry in the popular football series. Still not enough games? We’ve got a chunky list right here.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot. Like its predecessor, Condemned 2 has close ties with the unexplainable. Taking the shoes of former Serial Crimes Unit investigator Ethan Thomas, players will face the horrors of a mysterious city littered with murder crimes while utilizing the game’s new hand-to-hand combat mechanic when guns are not enough.

• Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 - March 11, 2008
• US 59.99
• ESRB M (Mature)
• Sega and Monolith Productions

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates. Fans of the previous iteration of this action RPG can find everything they loved about Square Enix’ multiplayer affair in its sequel. Four player mode is intact, coupled with unique controls made possible by the Nintendo DS’ touch screen.

• Nintendo DS - March 11, 2008
• US 39.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Square Enix

FlatOut: Head On. What can only be defined as pure destruction is racing its way to the PSP for some serious devastating car crashes across Carnage Race, Deathmatch Derby, and Ragdoll Stunts modes. Wi-Fi support promises you won’t be alone during your savage trips.

• Sony PlayStation Portable - March 11, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB T (Teen)
• Warner Bros. and Empire Interactive

House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return. Sega’s classic arcade shooter series which was insane enough to turn a typing spin-off into something fun has finally come back from the grave to haunt the family friendly Wii. Zombies attempt to prove the undead is as cool as they were a few decades ago using motion sensing controls.

• Nintendo Wii - March 11, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB M (Mature)
• Sega

Insecticide. Yes, Gamecock’s handheld offering is buggy, but not in a bad way. If you thought killing insects is fun without feeling guilty, try playing the snazzy detective Chrys Liszt and you’ll know how those bugs you love to squash have their own problems to take care of, too. Insecticide is said to be a cinematic experience which progresses through fast-paced shooting in finely crafted environments.

• Nintendo DS - March 11, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Gamecock and Crackpot

Lost Empire: Immortals. Can’t get enough of 4X games set in space? Meet Lost Empire: Immortals, a PC game cooked up with the immortal formula of pitting various races against each other as they explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. A solid number of 150 scientific advances and ten-player multiplayer mode ensure you’ll take hours to colonize every single star in the game’s universe.

• PC - March 11, 2008
• US 29.99
• Paradox Interactive and Pollux Gamelabs

Nanostray 2. It’s been a while since we first heard of this title, but it looks like the sequel to a solid top-down shooter is finally coming. Nanostray 2 has an array of new features with six game modes, multiple control schemes, and 16 bad bosses - definitely a leg up from the first Nanostray.

• Nintendo DS - January 15, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Majesco Games and Shin’en

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. From its humble beginnings as Winning Eleven, Konami’s football franchise has exploded to stardom and now constantly scores goals across several platforms. This season, it will strike North America on the PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, and DS.

• Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS - March 11, 2008
• US 59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3), US$29.99 (PSP, DS)
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Konami

Sam and Max Season 2: Episode 204. It’s episodic content at its best, as Telltale Games is releasing yet another entry in Sam and Max‘ animalistic adventures. The latest episode has all the improvements added to Season 2, such as more lively neighborhoods and the introduction of mini-games in every installment.

• PC - March 13, 2008
• US 8.99
• Telltale Games

Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory. Despite its title, Sudden Strike won’t take you by surprise. It’s too massive to strike quickly, what with the overwhelming number of available units on air, land, and sea, all rendered by a powerful 3D engine. The wait is over, soldier.

• PC - March 10, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB T (Teen)
• cdv Software Entertainment and Fireglow Games

Wild ARMs XF. The long-running RPG series by Media Vision is ready for a shoot-out on a handheld for the first time, featuring a heavily modified HEX battle system. As one of the many turn-based strategy games for the PSP, Wild ARMs XF sets itself apart by providing deep combat backed by Formation Arts, Combination Arts, and 20 unique job classes.

• Sony PlayStation Portable - March 11, 2008
• US 39.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• XSEED Games and Media Vision

World Championship Cards. If you need card games on the go, Crave has an expansive collection of over 30 different card games in one PSP title. To top it all, there’s character creation and eight-player online play or via AD HOC.

• Sony PlayStation Portable - March 11, 2008
• US 19.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Crave

XIII Century: Death or Glory. Epic battles between thousands of soldiers in 13th century Europe is the name of the game. Before joining the fray, military leaders are allowed to enter strategy mode in which they’ll be assessing economic, diplomatic, and political aspects of an invasion. When battle is inevitable, it’s time to customize troops and charge into battle!

• PC - March 12, 2008
• US 19.99
• GamersGate

originally posted Mar 10, 2008 at 12:36AM

Buy: [Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Xbox 360), (PS3)]
Buy: [Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (DS)]
Buy: [FlatOut: Head On (PSP)]
Buy: [House of the Dead 2&3 Return (Wii)]
Buy: [Insecticide (DS)]
Buy: [Lost Empire: Immortals (PC)]
Buy: [Nanostray 2 (DS)]
Buy: [Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Xbox 360), (PS3), (PSP), (DS)
Buy: [Wild ARMs XF (PSP)]
Buy: [World Championship Cards (PSP)]

Last month, Peter Moore announced that EA Sports is working on several new titles, including the latest installments to some of their franchises, including Madden. There have also been talks that the studio will acquire the license to Sony’s Formula One label.

EA Sports’ global marketing boss VP has confirmed that aside from the recently announced Facebreaker (PS3, 360, Wii), there are two new (still unannounced) original games in the works. That’s as much as they revealed though. We’ll keep you posted on updates. But knowing EA, some of you might assume that they’re going to be multiplatform games.

Moore also responds to the rumors surrounding Formula One, saying that he’s a big fan of the sport but EA Sports currently has no intention of acquiring the license to the game. He adds though, that it’s a possibility that’s open for the future:

The excitement that Lewis Hamilton has brought to the sport, and its vast global appeal, make it an appealing game licence, but as of right now it is not available.

Maybe in a few years the situation will change, but until then we fully respect the rights held by our partners at Sony.

Those of you who have been following the recent industry drama between Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive might be interested in this latest development: T2 has formed a severance plan to reassure their staff, just in case EA’s takeover pulls through.

The news of the takeover has the industry a little jittery, so it’s not surprising that T2’s staff need the reassurance. Back when the takeover bid was first announced, even Ubisoft was a little rattled and announced that they were hoping to expand as well.

There is a chance that the EA’s bid will turn into a hostile takeover, as industry analyst Michael Pachter points out, so a severance plan doesn’t strike as a panicked decision from T2. T2 maintains that the plan doesn’t mean the takeover will actually happen.

For those of you interested in the details of the severance plan, here’s the skinny:

• T2 executives will be given 1.5x their current salary and a bonus of up to 18 months if they are fired without cause within a year of a change in control.
• Non-executives will receive up to six months in salary.
• The severance plan does not apply to top executives covered under a separate management agreement

Gamers in Europe were given a treat by Microsoft earlier when it confirmed the price cut of the Xbox 360, which shaved off about US 100 from the tag. The chess pieces are now moving again, as Jesse Divnich might put it (he likens the format wars to chess).

Divnich and Michael Pachter, analysts of the video game industry for simExchange and WedBush Morgan respectively, have given their opinions on the price cut. The verdict? They both agree that the cut would boost Xbox 360 sales (a no brainer).

However, Pachter adds that the price cut would likely cause Sony to introduce a price cut on their console as well. He also believes that the 360 price cut was a result of Blu-ray’s success over HD DVD:

I’m sure it is more than coincidence that Microsoft cut price just after Sony won the Blu-ray / HD-DVD battle. Sony definitely gained in the eyes of consumers, who suddenly see the premium for the PlayStation 3 as having some value, and I think Microsoft decided to widen the gap between the two consoles.

Divnich believes that the price cut will give Microsoft the edge for only a short period of time until Sony can react (perhaps with a price cut, as Pachter suggests). However, he also believes that the price cut also give the Xbox 360 the edge over games:

A price cut will also position Microsoft to take advantage of some of the upcoming releases such as Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 and Grand Theft Auto 4, both of which are multi-platform titles and definite hardware drivers.

Divnich goes on to add that Microsoft needs to continue developing Xbox Live, saying that this is the 360’s advantage over PSN: “PlayStation Network will never be able to compete against the level of service that Xbox Live can provide.”

On the other hand, he does state the the PS3’s advantage over the Xbox 360 is its capabilities as a media device, especially after its victory in the format war: “Sony must continue to push for stronger adoption rates of not only high-definition televisions, but its own Blu-Ray disc players.”

Divnich closes by talking about the Wii, saying that Nintendo has no worries with the competition:

The Wii is of course always special and I don’t think either the PS3 or the Xbox 360 will ever be able to compete against it - no matter how low either of them drops their price. The Wii just simply offers an experience unparalleled to what any other system can provide. The price is not the selling point of the Wii.

Always look to Aeris if you want world peace. Amidst all the complaints from RPG fans in US and Europe of how Japan always gets things first (settle down, folks; Crisis Core is coming in just a few more days!), Square Enix is now making a move to have worldwide simultaneous releases for their games.

Yoichi Wada expressed this goal of theirs to Japan’s Nihon Keizan Shimbun, saying that Square Enix will be “making simultaneous releases the norm” from this point on. This bodes well, especially after Wada’s consideration of expanding their development studios to Western regions as well as reassessing their partnership with Microsoft.

Unfortunately, it remains unsaid as to what specific games in their pipeline will be having a worldwide simultaneous release. Maybe Final Fantasy XIII or Dragon Quest IX? Square Enix seems to be putting those two in their priority lists - even though specific release dates haven’t even been revealed yet.

Who knows? While chances of seeing them roll out within the year are slim, we can still hope for a simultaneous release for when these games come out in the future.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has been on top of the UK charts ever since December, bumped down only by a few notable releases. Last week is another one of those instances, with the release of Army of Two (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360).

Another newcomer on the charts this week (or should we call this a reentry?) is Bully: Scholarship Edition. Check out the rest of the UK software charts for the week of March 8, and we’ll update you again next week (when Mario & Sonic’s probably back on top - ha! who knows?):

1. Army of Two
2. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
3. Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training
4. Bully: Scholarship Edition
5. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
6. Frontlines: Fuel of War
7. Game Party
8. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Soulstorm
9. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
10. Lost: The Video Game
11. Lost Odyssey
12. Cooking Mama 2
13. More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima
14. FIFA 08
15. The Sims 2: Freetime
16. Carnival: Funfair Games
17. FIFA Street 3
18. MX vs ATV Untamed
19. Dynasty Warriors 6
20. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC)

Buy: [Army of Two (Xbox 360)]
Buy: [Army of Two (PS3)]

The NPD group will be releasing the hardware and software sales for February in a few days. January held a few surprises, including the PlayStation 3 outselling the Xbox 360 for the first time. Analysts disagree whether the same will hold true for February though.

Industry analysts Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan and Jesse Divnich of simExchange have given their predictions for the February numbers. They seem to have disagreements not only in sales figures, but in the relative success rate of each platform as well.

The DS, whose sales have been slipping in Japan, remains Pachter’s favorite for February, while Divnich has lowered his expectations on the handheld. As for the PS3-360 race, Pachter favors the Sony console, while Divnich prefers Microsoft’s.

However, they do agree that the Wii will still be selling more than both of them. Pachter is betting on Blu-ray’s success over HD DVD to spike PS3 sales, while Divnich believes that the “stalemate” between the PS3 and 360 will continue on ’til April.

On the software side of things, both agree that Devil May Cry 4 will dominate the charts, with Lost Odyssey close behind. (Not surprising, really.) Here are their hardware sales predictions for the month of February:

Michael Pachter’s predicted numbers:

DS: 350,000 units
Wii: 300,000 units
PS3: 260,000 units
Xbox 360: 250,000 units
PS2: 245,000 units
PSP: 225,000 units
GBA: 1,000 units

Jesse Divnich’s predicted numbers:

Wii: 450,000 units
DS: 450,000 units
Xbox 360: 285,000 units
PS3: 270,000 units
PSP: 259,000 units