What Are You Playing This Weekend?

Posted By: wraggster

I'm making this weekend a Demon's Souls weekend. Now that the holiday review season is dying down, it's time to play a little catch up.

So into the Nexus I will go, armed with my Knight and a heavy dose of fear, as I harvest souls for the long-delayed Kotaku review of From Software's PlayStation 3 sleeper hit. As a chaser, I plan to let go with a little more Left 4 Dead 2, my multiplayer game of choice. I've enjoyed my time with Modern Warfare 2, but I like laying waste to zombies with my friends.

How about yourself? Will you leave any helpful warnings for me in Demon's Souls? Perhaps be the Ellis to my Coach? Or do you have alternate gaming plans this weekend?

http://kotaku.com/5409354/what-are-y...g-this-weekend

8 comments - Last Comment By joshx1000

DQ Translations Site Launch and Release

Posted By: wraggster

The DQ Translations team has launched its new community based site. The site is devoted to romhacking and translations, specifically Dragon Quest style games.

In addition, the latest patch of their Dragon Quest 3 translation project has been released and it includes many bug fixes. This version should be the final version.

http://www.dqtranslations.com/
http://www.romhacking.net/forum/inde...opic,9835.html

0 comments - Last Comment By wraggster

M.I.J.E.T. Breaks Radio Silence with a New Translation

Posted By: wraggster

There is now a new translation patch for the Sharp X68000 game Mugen Senshi Valis II. On top of that, M.I.J.E.T. is very close to finishing his Phantasy Star 2 text adventures for the Sega CD. You can also expect an updated Langrisser II release as well.

http://mijet.eludevisibility.org/
http://www.romhacking.net/forum/inde...opic,9834.html

0 comments - Last Comment By wraggster

SBWin (SMD BIN WIN) 3.0.0b1 Released

Posted By: wraggster

After a long time, SBWin (formerly SMD BIN WIN) has a new release.

Version 3.0.0b1 (Beta 1) is a complete overhaul of the entire program, with lots of bug fixes and new features.

Improved Features:

Redesigned user interface, with modern Windows styles support
Better error handling
File conversion stability improved
Brand New Features:

File compression
File type identification
New conversion core (more stable)
Mixed conversion (convert mixed file types all at once)
Software updater
Much more

http://www.romhacking.net/forum/inde...opic,9833.html

0 comments - Last Comment By wraggster

Microsoft hails its ‘killer weapon’ in battle with PS3 and Wii

Posted By: wraggster

Live is streets ahead of rivals’ services following social media additions, says company
Microsoft has claimed that it is “continually keeping ahead” of its rivals’ online services with additions to Xbox Live.
The firm this week added social media services such as Twitter, Facebook and music portal Last.FM to Live – as well as HD movie streaming service Zune.
However, Facebook arrived on PS3 on Wednesday, as Nintendo launched its own version of the BBC iPlayer on Wii.
“We were the first to really understand the power that an online, live service has and bring it to life for millions of gamers – and now we’re the ones evolving it beyond gaming,” UK Xbox boss Neil Thompson told MCV.
“There are lots of clever companies out there doing interesting things on their platforms, but it’s our job to keep ahead of them, and constantly innovate. We’re keeping that pace going and will continue to do so.

“Xbox Live is flying at the moment – in the UK especially. Live is a killer weapon for us in terms of our line-up.
“When we first got into the console business, we understood that the elements that were going to define success in this business were really software and services. We knew that the hardware component was important, but really wasn’t the vital thing.”
The Zune service is a particularly intriguing addition to Xbox 360 – introducing a premium video experience with instant-on HD and surround sound.
Microsoft told MCV that the service was a way to build awareness of the Zune brand – but was not an indicator that it had plans to introduce Zune hardware to the UK.
“Zune is a pivotal element to our whole entertainment offering and a brand we’re going to keep building on,” added Thompson.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/36608/Micr...th-PS3-and-Wii

7 comments - Last Comment By joshx1000

Weekly UK video games market soars

Posted By: wraggster

This week’s UK software sales have skyrocketed 198 per cent to £103.1 million. It is comfortably the highest weekly figure of the year and isn’t far off 2008’s Christmas week, when £112.8 million went through UK games retailer’s tills.

Unit sales also leapt up, rising 123 per cent to 3,422,625 games sold.
The highly anticipated arrival of Modern Warfare 2 drove the sales. The game grossed £67.4 million, almost two thirds of the weekly value. Meanwhile, 1.78 million units were snapped up, which was over half of all games sold last week.
Today’s major releases should ensure another good week for games, with Assassin’s Creed II, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Left 4 Dead 2, F1 2009 and LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues due for release.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/36597/Week...s-market-soars

0 comments - Last Comment By wraggster

PSP still ahead in Japanese hardware charts

Posted By: wraggster

The PSP has retained its lead at the top of the weekly Japanese hardware sales charts, although sales were down over 2,500 units from the previous week to 45,197 (including 6,427 for the PSPgo).

Mirroring a slow week of software sales, all hardware formats saw a drop except for the PSP 3000, for which sales increased by 5,000 units. PSPgo demand though more than halved from the previous week, lowering the overall figure.

Combined Nintendo DS sales were 38,785 (including 5,036 for the DS Lite), down around 4,000 units on the previous week. PlayStation 3 sales were down by 10,000 units to a new total of 38,498. Wii sales fell by even more, down 11,000 units to 26,764.

Xbox 360 sales also dropped slightly to 4,124 units, while the PlayStation 2 remained almost static at 2,031 units.

01 PlayStation Portable: 45,197
02 Nintendo DS: 38,785
03 PlayStation 3: 38,498
04 Wii: 26,764
05 Xbox 360: 4,124
06 PlayStation 2: 2,031

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ardware-charts

0 comments - Last Comment By wraggster

Retailers must "make their own decisions" about pricing

Posted By: wraggster

Microsoft's Neil Thompson has told GamesIndustry.biz that retailers must choose for themselves the price points they're going to set for the sale of videogames - but has issued a warning about the sustainability of some of the aggressive discounting seen recently for games such as FIFA 10 and - particularly - Modern Warfare 2.

"Retailers have to make their own decisions about how they price in the market," he said this week. "I suppose the challenge when retailers do go aggressive on pricing in the way that some people do: is that sustainable over the long-term both for the industry and for themselves? Retail just have to make their own decisions."

He added that there was also a danger, when the public can pick up key titles on release day for as little as GBP 25, that the issue of value was being distorted.

"As an industry, I think we want to ensure consumers understand the value of the products they're buying, because these products cost tens of millions of dollars to create," he explained. "So as long as people appreciate that and understand that, as I say retailers have to make their own decisions on pricing, but we do want to ensure the value is created in this industry and this industry has a long and fruitful future ahead of it."

Thompson, who was speaking at the launch of the new functionality for Xbox 360, which include Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm, also gave his thoughts on the way that Modern Warfare 2 caught the public attention with the controversy surrounding the game's terrorist scene.

"My view is it was an 18-rated game, it's a game designed for adults, it should be consumed by adults and as long as retailers are responsible when they're selling it to adults, and as long as parents are responsible in ensuring their kids who are under 18 don't get access to it and don't play it, then I think it’s a great product," he said.

"There are scenes in it that some people won't like, but you pay your money, you take your choice - as an adult - to make those decisions. And I think it was marketed in an appropriate way and it is appropriate content for an adult community."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-about-pricing

2 comments - Last Comment By symbal

Sega finds goal in Japanese charts

Posted By: wraggster

For the second week running a football title sits atop the weekly Japanese sales charts, although Konami's World Soccer Winning Eleven 2010 (aka Pro Evolution Soccer 2010) has been replaced by the first PSP entry in Sega's long-running J-League Pro Soccer Club o Tsukurou! series.

Although only one iteration in the role-playing/management series has ever been released in Europe (as Let's Make a Soccer Team!) the franchise continues to prove popular in Japan. First week sales of just 63,000 are low for a number one title in Japan though and compare poorly to Konami's total of 218,000 last week.

Weekly sales overall were generally low across the board, with new PS3 entry Dragon Ball: Raging Blast at number three selling only 58,000 units. The Xbox 360 version entered the charts at number 28.

The rest of the chart is largely unchanged from the previous week with only two other new entries. The long delayed Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - The Crystal Bearers on Wii made little impact at number eight, with just 35,000 unit sales.

What would be known in the West as Mega Man Battle Network: Operate Shooting Star also showed some signs of franchise fatigue at number nine, with the DS remake of the original Battle Network title on GBA selling a mere 23,000 units.

01 J-League Pro Soccer Club o Tsukurou! 6: Pride of J (Sega)
02 Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver (Nintendo)
03 Dragon Ball: Raging Blast (Namco Bandai)
04 Tomodachi Collection (Nintendo)
05 Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo)
06 World Soccer Winning Eleven 2010 (Konami)
07 Inazuma Eleven 2: Kyoui no Shinryokusha - Fire/Blizzard (Level-5)
08 Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Square Enix)
09 Rockman EXE: Operate Shooting Star (Capcom)
10 Persona 3 Portable (Atlus)

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...apanese-charts

0 comments - Last Comment By wraggster

Review: WaterField Designs DSi Travel Case

Posted By: bandit

WaterField Designs DSi Travel Case
Manufacturer: WaterField Designs
Site: Buy from Waterfield Designs
Price: $37.00

Overview : As recommended by Mario and Zelda to revolutionize your DSi. From Yoshi's Island to Castlevania, our compact and protective Nintendo DSi Cases hold it all.

The DSi Travel Case is designed to keep the Nintendo DSi and its accessories (including power supply) all together and tangle-free in one place. Custom-sized, padded, interior compartments and self-locking zippers keep your gear safe and secure.

Features:

• 7" x 3.5" x 2"
• DSi Travel Case Colors (Silver, Red, Green, Brown, Blue, Black)

Quality/Usability : Going on vacations or just commuting from work/school, its hard to keep track of all your items. For cellphones, you have headsets, cases, chargers and extra batteries, if any. With game stuff, there is more to it. You have videogames, chargers, accessories and more. Its hard to keep track of everything. WaterField Designs is here to help remedy that situation with the DSi Travel Case. The DSi Travel Case is made water resistant material that is also washable (exterior material is water resistant...interior is washable). Case has no outer pockets but does have a locking zipper on the top to prevent any items from falling out or falling in. A locking zipper is a zipper that will not move when the tab is folded down. So if the tab is layed flat with the zipper, the zipper will not open unless you pull with some force. The bottom of the travel case has a rubber padding kind of like a basketball texture to prevent any damage or sliding which also runs up along the side of the case. The outside, which comes in many colors has a shiny metallic look to it.

Inside the DSi Travel Case are 3 compartments. One of the compartments is split into two small pouches which can be used to store your DS games. The center compartment can be used to hold bigger objects such as a charger. The other compartment holds the DSi and is pretty snug. The DSi wont budge. However, it can be a little hassle to get out so you can swap locations. Use the center compartment for the DSi and the other compartment for your charger. Dont worry though, the inside is lined with non-abrasive material so you wont have to worry about the material scratching your DSi or other items. There is also a loop at the end of the pouch. This allows you to put your finger through to give you a better grip in holding the case when removing your DSi rather than squeezing the case.

Conclusion : Overall, the WaterField Designs DSi Travel Case stores all your accessories and system all in one location. The DSi Travel Case is made of durable material with a locking zipper that prevents the zipper from opening and rubber material at the bottom that prevents any slipping. Like all WaterField Design products, you're getting a product that is made in the USA and is durable. With a quality product, there is a price to pay. The cost of the DSi Travel Case is just shy of $40. It is a bit pricey for a case. What I do like about these cases though is that even if you get rid of your electronic device, you can still use the case for something else whether it be just to store or to protect a device. So this case does have a multi-purpose to it.

Images via comments

0 comments - Last Comment By bandit