Kotaku: confirmed

Professor Layton Sequel Coming Says Game Manual

fdemarco — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:00:00 MST

According to the game manual for Professor Layton and the Curious Village, the second game in the trilogy should be hitting US shores soon. Game Life is reporting that like it's Japanese Counterpart, the US version of Professor Layton contains a password entry screen that can only be unlocked by playing the game's sequel. The game manual states that the secret password "will be revealed in the sequel."

Of course we have certainly been promised games before that never materialized, but I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for this one. I've played a little bit of the Japanese version and was absolutely enthralled until I couldn't get any further due to my ignorance of the language. As soon as I can finish all this writing today you can bet I'll be diving into the US version and the prospect of a sequel leaves me dancing a mad jig.

Professor Layton Sequel Confirmed For U.S. [Game|Life]

Eidos Montreal Confirms Deus Ex 3

Mike Fahey — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:20:09 MST

Eidos has thrown wide the doors to its new Montreal, Québec development studio, and despite their promise to deliver AAA titles, their first game has absolutely nothing to do with roadside service contracts. Instead they has announced that they are hard at work on Deus Ex 3, the next title in the critically acclaimed FPS / RPG hybrid, rumored since May. Gamasutra spoke to Eidos Montreal GM Stéphane D'Astous, who once again lied about AAA titles.

"We're only working on AAA, major titles. We're going to be developing only major AAA games, using only next-gen technology."

Deus Ex 3 is excellent news and all, but until I get a game about sitting is a musty office fielding emergency road service calls, there is no AAA game.

Eidos Announces Deus Ex 3, Talks New Montreal Studio [Gamasutra]

Take Two Confirms Manhunt II Hack

Mark Wilson — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:40:24 MDT

For those who missed it, hackers had allegedly de-blurrified the AO content in Manhunt II to play on PSP. Now Take Two has confirmed the rumor.

Multiple edits were made to revise Manhunt 2 for its M-rated version. Hackers apparently have altered one of those edits to produce an illegally modified version of the game that can only be played on an unauthorized, modified PlayStation Portable handheld system...Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick said, "I stand behind the game and the ESRB ratings process. It is unfortunately the case that no one in the entertainment software industry is immune from hacking...We would also like to emphasize that Manhunt 2 is intended for an audience aged 17 and above.

In other words, we're all victims when a little Hot Coffee spills in our laps.

BREAKING: Rockstar Confirms Manhunt 2 PSP Hack [gamepolitics]

It's Official: Spore Coming To The Wii

fdemarco — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:00:00 MDT

In a recent interview with UK's Guardian Unlimited, Will Wright has finally confirmed that a version of Spore is being developed for the Wii. And despite the different controls, Wright seems to like working on the platform.

We're doing Spore on the Wii, and we did MySims. It takes signifcant re-thinking to work out how you're going to do it. PS3 and Xbox 360 are similar enough that you can basically use the same system for both. So it comes down to what the interesting major platforms are and which markets we want to hit.

While this is probably one of the most noteworthy portions of the article, the rest of it is worth a read just to find out what the likes of Will Wright has as his home game set up, what kind of games he likes to play and of course, his take on the never ending debate on the effect of video games on children. A nice little read for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Q&A: Will Wright, creator of the Sims
[via GoNintendo]

Okami Wii Confirmed

Mike Fahey — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:20:14 MDT

Luke Plunkett can finally rest easy as the game that brought us the most horrific fursuit of all time has been confirmed as coming to the Nintendo Wii in 2008. Capcom has made an official announcement at their event in London, as reported by the folks at Eurogamer. This gives me a chance to finally finish the game on the system that almost seems like it was custom designed around the celestial paintbrush mechanic. Along with the painting, combat will also feature motion-controlled attacks. I hope you all enjoyed the PS2 test run - Okami is finally coming home.

Okami confirmed for Wii [Eurogamer]

Nintendo's Holiday Release List Includes DS Assassin's Creed

Brian Crecente — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:40:04 MDT

Sure Super Smash Bros Brawl has been pushed back into 2008, but there's still going to be a ton of games to choose from for the Wii and DS. Check out the full list of release titles on the jump and keep an eye of for Link's Crossbow Training on the Wii and Assassin's Creed on the DS to name a few.

"Because of Wii and Nintendo DS momentum, third-party publishers are supporting our systems like never before," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Their lineup of diverse games is testament to how we make the population of gamers a little bigger every day."

Wii
Oct. 15: Sea Monsters from DSI Games
Oct. 16: Thrillville(R): Off the Rails(TM) from LucasArts
Oct. 22: EA PLAYGROUND from Electronic Arts
Oct. 23: Backyard Football from Atari, Inc.
Oct. 23: The Sims 2(TM) Castaway from Electronic Arts
Oct. 23: Rockstar Games Presents(TM) Table Tennis from Rockstar Games
Oct. 23: The Legend of Spyro(TM): The Eternal Night from Sierra
Entertainment, Inc.
Oct. 23: NARUTO(TM): Clash of Ninja(TM) Revolution from TOMY Corporation
Oct. 25: M&M'S(R) Kart Racing from DSI Games
Oct. 28: Guitar Hero III(TM): Legends of Rock from Activision
Oct. 29: Battalion Wars(TM) 2 from Nintendo
Oct. 30: Ben 10(TM): Protector of Earth from D3Publisher of America(R)
Oct. 30: Showtime(R) Championship Boxing(TM) from DSI Games
Oct. 30: NEED FOR SPEED PROSTREET from Electronic Arts
Oct. 30: THE SIMPSONS from Electronic Arts
Oct. 31: Manhunt 2(TM) from Rockstar Games
October: Spider-Man(TM): Friend or Foe from Activision
October: Bee Movie(TM) Game from Activision
October: Tony Hawk's Proving Ground from Activision
October: Ultimate Duck Hunting(TM) from Detn8 Games Ltd.
October: Mercury Meltdown Revolution from Ignition Entertainment
October: Namco Museum(TM) Remix from NAMCO BANDAI Games America
October: Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity from The Game Factory
October: Avatar: The Last Airbender(TM) - The Burning Earth from THQ
October: Bratz: The Movie(TM) from THQ
October: Cars: Mater-National from THQ
October: Nicktoons(TM): Attack of the Toybots from THQ
October: SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis(TM) from THQ
Nov. 5: Fire Emblem(R): Radiant Dawn from Nintendo
Nov. 6: DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party from Konami Digital
Entertainment, Inc.
Nov. 6: LEGO(R) Star Wars(TM): The Complete Saga from LucasArts
Nov. 6: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games(TM) from SEGA
Nov. 12: Super Mario Galaxy(TM) from Nintendo
Nov. 13: Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 13: Godzilla Unleashed from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 13: Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary from Eidos, Inc.
Nov. 13: BLOCKS from Electronic Arts
Nov. 13: MEDAL OF HONOR HEROES(TM) 2 from Electronic Arts
Nov. 13: LUXOR: Pharaoh's Challenge from MumboJumbo
Nov. 13: Geometry Wars(TM): Galaxies from Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Nov. 19: Link's Crossbow Training(TM) (packaged with Wii Zapper(TM)) from
Nintendo
Nov. 19: SMARTY PANTS(TM) from Electronic Arts
Nov. 20: Jenga World Tour from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 20: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords(TM) from D3Publisher of
America(R)
November: Trauma Center(TM): New Blood from Atlus USA
November: Star Trek: Conquest from Bethesda Softworks
November: Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey from Disney Interactive
Studios
November: Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour from Disney Interactive
Studios
November: High School Musical: Sing It from Disney Interactive Studios
November: Garfield Gets Real from DSI Games
November: Furu Furu Park from Majesco Entertainment
November: AMF Bowling: Pinbusters! from Mud Duck Games
November: Ghost Squad(TM) from SEGA
November: WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2008 from THQ
November: Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 from Ubisoft
November: CSI: Hard Evidence from Ubisoft
November: My Word Coach from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Catz 2 (name not final) from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Dogz 2 (name not final) from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Horsez 2 (name not final) from Ubisoft
November: Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 from Ubisoft
Dec. 4: Alvin and the Chipmunks from Brash Entertainment
Dec. 4: The Golden Compass(TM) from SEGA
December: MX vs. ATV(TM) Untamed(TM) from THQ
December: Super Swing Golf(TM) Season 2 from Tecmo, Inc.
December: Rygar(R): The Battle of Argus from Tecmo, Inc.
December: Cranium: Kabookii from Ubisoft
December: Nitrobike from Ubisoft
Holiday 2007: NiGHTS(TM): Journey of Dreams from SEGA
Winter '07: SoulCalibur Legends(TM) from NAMCO BANDAI Games America
Jan. 21: Endless Ocean(TM) from Nintendo
Feb. 10: Super Smash Bros.(R) Brawl from Nintendo
Feb. 15: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games
Feb. 19: Sonic(TM) Riders: Zero Gravity from SEGA
February: No More Heroes from Ubisoft
February: Wild Petz Tigerz from Ubisoft
March: Obscure: The Aftermath from Ignition Entertainment
Q1: LUXOR 3 from MumboJumbo
Q1: One Piece(TM): Unlimited Adventure(TM) from NAMCO BANDAI Games
America
Spring '08: Mario Kart(R) Wii (name not final) from Nintendo

DS
Oct. 15: Flash Focus(TM): Vision Training in Minutes a Day from Nintendo
Oct. 15: The Aly & AJ Adventure from DSI Games
Oct. 16: Cheetah Girls: Pop Star Sensations from Disney Interactive
Studios
Oct. 16: Thrillville(R): Off the Rails(TM) from LucasArts
Oct. 16: Fish Tycoon(R) from Majesco Entertainment
Oct. 16: Super Collapse! 3 from MumboJumbo
Oct. 17: Prism(TM) from Secret Stash Games(TM)
Oct. 19: Betty Boop's(TM) "Double Shift" from DSI Games
Oct. 22: EA PLAYGROUND from Electronic Arts
Oct. 23: THE SIMS 2 CASTAWAY from Electronic Arts
Oct. 23: Rhythm 'n Notes: Improve Your Music Skill from AGETEC
Oct. 23: Backyard Football 2008 from Atari, Inc.
Oct. 23: Napoleon Dynamite from Crave Entertainment
Oct. 23: Ed, Edd n Eddy(TM): Scam of the Century from D3Publisher of
America(R)
Oct. 23: Hannah Montana: Music Jam from Disney Interactive Studios
Oct. 23: Disney Princess: Magical Jewels from Disney Interactive Studios
Oct. 23: Power Rangers: Super Legends from Disney Interactive Studios
Oct. 23: Zoo Hospital(TM) from Majesco Entertainment
Oct. 23: FRONT MISSION(R) from Square Enix, Inc.
Oct. 23: NARUTO(TM): Path of the Ninja(TM) from TOMY Corporation
Oct. 25: Sea Monsters from DSI Games
Oct. 25: Arctic Tale from DSI Games
Oct. 30: Ben 10(TM): Protector of Earth from D3Publisher of America(R)
Oct. 30: Suite Life: Circle of Spies from Disney Interactive Studios
Oct. 30: Dr. Seuss: How the Grinch(TM) Stole Christmas from DSI Games
Oct. 30: NEED FOR SPEED PROSTREET from Electronic Arts
Oct. 30: THE SIMPSONS from Electronic Arts
Oct. 30: Puzzle de Harvest Moon from Natsume Inc.
Oct. 31: Dementium: The Ward from Gamecock Media Group
Oct. 31: Solitaire Overload(TM) from Telegames, Inc.
October: Spider-Man(TM): Friend or Foe from Activision
October: Bee Movie(TM) Game from Activision
October: Shrek(R): Ogres and Dronkeys(TM) from Activision
October: Tony Hawk's Proving Ground from Activision
October: Touch Detective 21/2(TM) from Atlus USA
October: Animal Genius(TM) from Scholastic
October: Build-A-Bear Workshop from The Game Factory
October: Avatar: The Last Airbender(TM) - The Burning Earth from THQ
October: Cars: Mater-National from THQ
October: El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera(TM) from THQ
October: Nicktoons(TM): Attack of the Toybots from THQ
October: Ratatouille(R) Food Frenzy from THQ
October: SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis(TM) from THQ
October: Chessmaster: The Art of Learning from Ubisoft
October: Imagine: Babyz from Ubisoft
October: Imagine: Fashion Designer from Ubisost
October: Imagine: Master Chef from Ubisoft
October: Imagine: Animal Doctor from Ubisoft
October: Wild Petz Dolphinz from Ubisoft
Nov. 6: Dora the Explorer(TM): Dora Saves the Mermaids from 2K Play
Nov. 6: Go Diego Go(TM): Safari Adventure from 2K Play
Nov. 6: Baby Pals from Crave Entertainment
Nov. 6: Horse Life(TM) from D3Publisher of America(R)
Nov. 6: LEGO(R) Star Wars(TM): The Complete Saga from LucasArts
Nov. 6: Chicken Hunter from MumboJumbo
Nov. 6: DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS(TM): Joker from Square Enix, Inc.
Nov. 10: Showtime(R) Championship Boxing(TM) from DSI Games
Nov. 13: Enchanted from Disney Interactive Studios
Nov. 13: BOOGIE from Electronic Arts
Nov. 13: ORCS & ELVES from Electronic Arts
Nov. 13: Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends from Majesco Entertainment
Nov. 13: Geometry Wars(TM): Galaxies from Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Nov. 19: Mario Party(R) DS from Nintendo
Nov. 20: Godzilla Unleashed Double Smash from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 20: Jenga World Tour from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 20: LUXOR: Pharaoh's Challenge from MumboJumbo
Nov. 20: FINAL FANTASY(R) XII: REVENANT WINGS(TM) from Square Enix, Inc.
Nov. 26: Master of Illusion(TM) from Nintendo
November: Call of Duty(R): Modern Warfare(TM) from Activision
November: Ontamarama(TM) from Atlus USA
November: Draglade(TM) from Atlus USA
November: Elf Bowling(TM) Collector's Edition from Detn8 Games Ltd.
November: Garfield Gets Real from DSI Games
November: Clue(TM)/Mouse Trap(TM)/Perfection(TM)/Aggravation(TM) from DSI
Games
November: Contra 4 from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
November: Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 from Konami Digital
Entertainment, Inc.
November: Strawberry Shortcake: The Four Seasons Cake from The Game
Factory
November: Bratz Super Babyz(TM) from THQ
November: Bratz: 4 Real(TM) from THQ
November: Warhammer(R) 40,000(TM): Squad Command(TM) from THQ
November: WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2008 from THQ
November: Ninja Gaiden(R) Dragon Sword from Tecmo, Inc.
November: My French Coach from Ubisoft
November: My Spanish Coach from Ubisoft
November: My Word Coach from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Catz 2 (working title) from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Dogz 2 (working title) from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Hamsterz Life 2 from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Horsez 2 from Ubisoft
November: Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 from Ubisoft
Dec. 4: Alvin and the Chipmunks from Brash Entertainment
Dec. 4: The Golden Compass(TM) from SEGA
Dec. 10: RIP: Death Volunteers(TM) from Telegames, Inc.
December: Diary Girl from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Jan. 15: Barnyard Blast from DSI Games
Jan. 21: Advance Wars(R): Days of Ruin from Nintendo
Jan. 25: M&M'S(R) Kart Racing from DSI Games
Jan. 31: Command & Destroy from DSI Games
January: Miami Nights from Ubisoft
Feb. 4: Professor Layton and the Curious Village(TM) from Nintendo
Feb. 12: New Zealand Story Revolution from Ignition Entertainment
Feb. 15: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games
Feb. 19: Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer from SEGA
Feb. 26: Bubble Bobble Double Shot from Ignition Entertainment
February: Imagine: Figure Skater from Ubisoft
February: Wild Petz Tigerz from Ubisoft
February: Assassin's Creed from Ubisoft
March 4: Disney Friends from Disney Interactive Studios
March 29: Ultimate Card Games from Telegames, Inc.
March: Insecticide from Gamecock Media Group
March: My Life Coach from Ubisoft
Q1: Eco Creatures: Save the Forest from Majesco Entertainment
Q1: Polar Bowling from MumboJumbo
Q1: Slingo Quest from MumboJumbo
Q1: Tropix from MumboJumbo
Q1: Polar Golf from MumboJumbo
Q1: River King: Mystic Valley from Natsume Inc.
Q1: Harvest Moon DS Cute from Natsume Inc.
Q1: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games(TM) from SEGA

Unreal 4 Engine in Development

Mark Wilson — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:20 MDT

Who would have thought that, after making three successful Unreal engines, Epic would make another? During a recent visit to Epic's offices, several noticed a pile of Beautiful Mindesque scribbles on programmer Tim Sweeney's desk. And that crazy scribble, my friends, was confirmed to be the early strings of code for the Unreal 4 engine. Those little pencil markings will become headshots, chainsawed bodies and probably even ponies and crap.

Then again, it's not like these companies are conjuring engines out of thin air. If you want a first look at the Unreal 4 engine, just take a glance at Unreal 3...and apparently a trip past Tom Sweeney's desk won't hurt, either. Because until we have Barbie's next adventure with real solid plastic boob physics, that much will have to do.

Unreal Engine 4 in Development [via destructoid]

Japanese Halo 3 Works In US Xbox 360

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:00:52 MDT

Finally! I literally just picked up a copy of Halo 3. I got the Japanese version, because, well, I've actually only played Halo in Japanese. So Master Chief's voice would sound pretty goofy to me in English! Kinda worried about getting The Land of the Rising Sun version, because I'm using an American console. Good news: The Japanese version works like a charm on US systems. The menus are all in English as well — as opposed to Halo, which only has Japanese menus. Just popped it in, but I've heard the voice track is subtitled in English. So, those in the market for Japanese language games, there ya go!

Yes, Level 5 Is So The New Square Enix

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:30:55 MDT

Doors opened for the second TGS press day at 10 am sharp. Immediately, a huge mob descended on the Level 5 booth, and the wait clocked in at 90 minutes by a few minutes after 10am. (Level 5 is of course the developer behind Professor Layton, Dragon Quest IX and Jeanne D'Arc.) Remember: this is a press day. So if journalists and industry types are willing to wait an hour and a half to get a free demo DS cart of upcoming Level 5 titles Inazuma Eleven and Professor Layton and the Devil's Box, just imagine how brutal the public days will be. Hell! Hit the jump for the mass of people.

And what about fellow Japanese RPG maker Square Enix's booth?

That's Haiti in Your Resident Evil 5

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:00:05 MDT

Remember that Resident Evil 5-is-racist brouhaha? The E3 trailer showed large numbers of black zombies getting killed, which set off a firestorm of controversy. Killing black zombies? Masked racism, critics say. According to our well-placed insider, there is a reason for that: Resident Evil 5 takes place in Haiti, zombism's spiritual home. Speculation was that it took place in either Africa or Carribean. And yes, according to our insider, the setting is apparently Haiti. Makes sense!

Guitar Hero DS Rocks Without Touch Screen

Mark Wilson — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:40:28 MDT

Guitar Hero DS will definitely not be using the touch screen. Instead, as rumored, developer Vicarious Visions is planning the game for a peripheral (which may or may not look strikingly similar to the above concept). So it's confirmed at last: you will look like a total tool playing Guitar Hero DS.

Also of note: GHDS will match the 3D graphical style of the original series. To some this is great news, but I'd welcome the DS platform as a place to screw with these young traditions a bit, fight the man and all that jazz. Because does anyone out there have real expectations for the port? I've sort written it off as an amusing novelty.

Austin GDC '07: New Guitar Hero DS details [via cvg]

Msoft Investigator Confirms Halo 3 Manual

Brian Crecente — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:00:33 MDT

Remember that leaked Halo 3 manual we posted about late last month? The one we weren't sure was real or not? Turns out it is real after all. Well according to Microsoft's freelance attorneys it is.

We recently received an email from an "Internet Investigator" on behalf of Microsoft asking us to take down the images from the manual because they were, he claimed, an infringement on the trademark rights of Microsoft Corporation. Of course that's not even close to true, since they are, in fact, part of a legitimate newsworthy story... one we can now confirm is legit. Too legit, in fact, to quit. Hit the jump for the scary letter from Microsoft's Internet Investigator.

Leaked Halo 3 Manual?

04 September 2007

Dear Sir or Madam,

It has come to Microsoft's attention that your website includes material which is in violation of Microsoft's intellectual property rights. Content currently residing within your computer system infringes on the trademark rights of Microsoft Corporation and constitutes an unauthorized activity relating to Microsoft computer programs. Moreover, the material contains proprietary trade secret information belonging to Microsoft. I am authorized to act on behalf of Microsoft in this matter.

The infringing materials residing on your system are the screen shots of Microsoft software programs available at the following location:
http://kotaku.com/assets/images/gallery/9/2007/08/
medium_1178846754_90da0e9714_o.png, http://kotaku.com/assets/images/ gallery/9/2007/08/medium_1178844716_c3f4da83b9_o.png,

Posting of Microsoft's proprietary trade secret information as described above is not authorized by Microsoft, any of its agents, or by law. We request that you immediately take steps to remove this material from your website. If you do not act expeditiously to remove access to the infringing material, you may otherwise be liable for trademark infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and/or other remedies at law, including civil and criminal penalties.

We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Please advise us regarding what actions you take.

Yours sincerely,

James Young
Internet Investigator

on behalf of Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
United States of America

Toyota Yaris Advergame Coming to Xbox 360

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:10:52 MDT

Consider this confirmation of sorts. There have been rumors that Toyota was involved with an Xbox 360 advergame for the Yaris, and an ESRB rating for a title by developer Backbone Emeryville fueled that speculative fire. Via game blog Siliconera, comes this Flickr find that shows the Toyota Yaris game is very real. Kinda hard to see what's going on on that monitor, but we imagine something with the Toyota Yaris. Think this is going to be free? I'd totally play it if the advergame's gratis. That, and if doesn't suck.
Evolution FGC [Flckr via Siliconera]

Xbox 360 Falcon Chips Are Coming This Year

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:00:33 MDT

It's coming. Obviously. Later this year, Xbox 360s outfitted with 65-nm chips should be hitting store shelves according to The Xbox 360 Uncloaked author Dean Takahashi. Dubbed "Falcon," these chips are smaller than the current 90-nm processors and should use less energy. And that *should* lead to fewer Red Rings of Death. Well, theoretically! We won't know until these consoles are out in the wild, performing under real world conditions. However, Takahashi has confirmed that the chips are in the first batch of consoles currently being made, meaning that they could be there by fall. But Microsoft isn't going to disclose to customers which consoles have what. Takahashi points out:

But here's the problem for Microsoft. They have a lot of inventory of the older 90-nanometer machines. Many of these machines don't have the HDMI ports for sure. It has to sell these machines out before it starts selling the Falcon-based machines. That means that a lot of consumers are going to be buying machines that don't have the highest quality.

Meaning that if you want to make damn sure you don't buy old product, you're going to need to wait. But if everyone waits, then that's not exactly going to help flush these faulty 90-nm consoles from the marketplace. So if you're in the market for an Xbox 360, there's a chance you'll have a very red Christmas. What Microsoft's Falcon Project Means [Mercury News]

Microsoft: HDMI Coming to Premium 360s

Brian Crecente — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:06:42 MDT

Microsoft has just confirmed that HDMI is now standard with the Premium version of the Xbox 360, now priced at $350. The retooled Premium 360, sporting the fancy HDMI, will sport an HDMI logo on the outside of the box, a Microsoft rep told Kotaku.

"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

Big kudos to Opposable Thumbs for being the first to get their teeth into this story and Shack News who got their hands on the first picture proof.

Jaffe's Big News

Brian Crecente — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:55:30 MDT

SCEA today confirmed what we reported yesterday: The company has signed an exclusive game development deal with a new studio formed by David Jaffe and Scott Campbell. Their first Playstation game will be released in 2008.

Jaffe, the developer of GOW and other games, and Campbell, founder of Incognito, formed Eat, Sleep, Play in Utah under the SCEA Santa Monica Studios banner. As part of their multi-year-multi-title deal the studio will be creating Twisted Metal(R): Head On for PlayStation 2, which is scheduled to be released this winter. Twisted Metal: Head On will feature lost levels from the never released Twisted Metal: Black(R) Part II and a documentary on the series.

"We are extremely pleased to be working with David and Scott and supporting them in their new endeavor," said Shuhei Yoshida, senior vice president, product development, SCEA. "Through hit after hit, they have established themselves as two of the most talented individuals this industry has ever seen, and I look forward to seeing what kind of further gaming innovation they can bring to the PlayStation brand through our new development deal."

Hmmm, I hope Jaffe has more light to shed on this news. I'd love to hear what the new studio's first big project will be. Release after the jump.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Exclusive Game Development Deal With 'Eat, Sleep, Play(TM)'

New Development Studio Formed By God of War(R) Creator David Jaffe and former Incognito Entertainment Chief Scott Campbell

FOSTER CITY, Calif., July 27 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) today announced an exclusive game development deal with Eat, Sleep, Play(TM), a new software development company formed by legendary game creators David Jaffe and Scott Campbell. Under the agreement, Eat, Sleep, Play is signed on for a multi-year, multi-title deal to create titles for the PlayStation family of products, with the first slated for release in 2008.
Based in Utah, Eat, Sleep, Play is a newly formed company founded by David Jaffe, a former creative director for SCEA's Santa Monica Studios; and Scott Campbell, the founder of Incognito Entertainment, a dedicated development
studio also under the SCEA Santa Monica Studios banner. Jaffe is perhaps best known as the co-creator and game director behind the multi-million PlayStation(R) platform franchises Twisted Metal(R) on PS one(R) & PlayStation(R)2 and God of War(R) on PlayStation 2. Campbell, a long-time collaborator with Jaffe and co-creator of the Twisted Metal titles, is currently receiving industry praise for Incognito's PLAYSTATION(R)3 PS3(TM))-exclusive online air and ground combat game Warhawk(TM). Additionally, Jaffe and Campbell recently collaborated efforts on Calling All Cars(TM), a popular exclusive downloadable title for PLAYSTATION(R)Network.
In addition to the multi-year, multi-title deal to create titles for the PlayStation family of products, the company will also be creating Twisted Metal(R): Head On for PlayStation 2, which is scheduled to be released this winter. Twisted Metal: Head On will feature lost levels from the never released Twisted Metal: Black(R) Part II and a documentary on the series.
"We are extremely pleased to be working with David and Scott and supporting them in their new endeavor," said Shuhei Yoshida, senior vice president, product development, SCEA. "Through hit after hit, they have established themselves as two of the most talented individuals this industry has ever seen, and I look forward to seeing what kind of further gaming innovation they can bring to the PlayStation brand through our new development deal."
In conjunction with today's news, SCEA confirmed that the core members of the Incognito team responsible for Warhawk will remain within the SCEA Santa Monica Studios fold, headed up by Dylan Jobe, and will continue to produce content for this highly-anticipated title. Jobe, game director for Warhawk, is known for his work on the popular hit titles War of the Monsters(TM) and Twisted Metal: Black(R) for PlayStation 2.

Kaz Says SIXAXIS Is Not The Final PS3 Controller

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:20:15 MDT

Kikizo spoke with new PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai—formerly miniboss of SCEA—touching on a number of subjects, ranging from old boss Ken Kutaragi's "retirement" to the oft-rumored rumble enabled SIXAXIS. Kaz and crew realize that rumble is "something that I know the consumers have told us they're looking to have in the PS3 controller" and that its a feature they're "obviously looking at." But, Kaz, is that all you got? That's so last gen!

Kaz responds:

We're also looking at a variety of other things that we can incorporate with the controller, and we'll come out with announcements when we think we have the right mix of features for the PS3 controller. [...] That's also an evolving peripheral, if you will, in that we started out with the original PS1 controller with no analogue, and it's come all the way to this point, so obviously, as we go forward, it's not the final model for a PS3 controller, so we'll see what comes down the road.

Are those rumors of Immersion's TouchSense technology starting to sound more legitimate? Maybe. Let's hope we hear fewer tired "Riiiiiidge Racerrrrr" references at Tokyo Game Show and more about opportunities to rebuy the SIXAXIS again.

PlayStation Interview: Kaz Hirai [Kikizo]

Peter Moore Resigns, Mattrick Steps In

Brian Crecente — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:10:03 MDT

Microsoft just confirmed the news we exclusively broke two hours ago: Peter Moore resigned from Microsoft.

Moore will be replaced by Don Mattrick, a former president of EA and current external adviser for Microsoft, who will now lead the Interactive Entertainment Business for Microsoft. While the official release says that Moore "has decided to move his family back to the Bay Area for personal reasons and has secured another opportunity in the video games industry", we've heard that calls have already started going out within the industry confirming that the other "opportunity" is EA where he will head up EA Sports.

When we last spoke with Moore, just a week ago, he was comfortable in his element but did seem a bit more haggard than usual, perhaps because of his back-breaking E3 schedule or perhaps because he had this on his mind. Moore will stay with Microsoft through August before returning to the San Francisco Bay area.

The real question is when he will be getting those Madden cover-up tats. Hit the jump for the full on release.

Peter Moore Resigns From Microsoft to Return to Northern California Don Mattrick appointed to head Microsoft's Xbox and Games Business.

REDMOND, Wash. — July 17, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Don Mattrick, a former president at Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), will lead the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB), which includes overseeing the Xbox® and Games for Windows® businesses. Peter Moore, who currently serves as corporate vice president of IEB, has decided to move his family back to the Bay Area for personal reasons and has secured another opportunity in the video games industry.
Mattrick will take over as the senior vice president of IEB at Microsoft, effective July 30. Mattrick was the founder of Distinctive Software Inc., which operated as a private company from 1982 until its merger with EA in 1991. Mattrick held various senior positions within EA, most recently as president of Worldwide Studios, until his resignation in February 2006. In February 2007, Mattrick began working with the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft as an external advisor.
"Peter has contributed enormously to the games business since joining Microsoft in 2003 and we are sad to see him go," said Robbie Bach, president of Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "Since that time, he presided over the global launch of the Xbox 360™, spearheaded a revitalized and rebranded Games for Windows business, and helped steer the console's ascent."
Moore has decided to return with his family to Northern California, where they lived until he took the position at Microsoft. Moore will remain at Microsoft to assist in the transition through August and will then return to the San Francisco Bay area.
"While Peter will certainly be missed, we are delighted to have one of the industry's most talented and passionate veterans on board to lead the business," Bach said. "Don is well-known and respected throughout the industry for his deep knowledge, technical expertise and management savvy. Under Don's leadership, the games team is looking forward to embarking on our biggest holiday ever, with a wide-ranging roster of some of the most highly anticipated titles."
Mattrick brings 23 years of games industry and development experience to the strong Microsoft management team, having helped bring to life such celebrated game franchises as the "Need for Speed," "Harry Potter" and "The Sims" while at EA.
"Over the past two decades, and the past few months in particular, I've worked closely with many of Microsoft's top leaders and I've always been impressed by their talent, passion and commitment," said Mattrick. "I'm thrilled to join an already strong team that's delivering truly amazing gaming experiences to customers around the world. I've never been more excited about the future of the industry, and firmly believe Microsoft will lead the next great innovations in gaming."
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

124 Nintendo Wii & DS Games In The Works

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:20:05 MDT

Nintendo prez Satoru Iwata told Japanese press yesterday that the company currently has 45 Wii games and 79 Nintendo DS games in development, with some of those titles scheduled for release this summer.

Following the release of the company's yearly financial results, Iwata told the gathered crowd that while in-house development teams have 124 projects spread across the console and portable platforms, not all of them will see release.

Guess that means no Wii drought, eh?

While we know a handful of the 79 titles already in development for the Nintendo DS, many of those are likely never to make it outside of Japan, as is currently the case with bestselling software like Kanji Training, Cooking Navi and English Training. Still to be released DS software includes North American release confirmed titles Chibi Robo: Park Patrol, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and DS Air.

On the Wii front, we have a better idea what to expect over the next year or two. The list of currently confirmed and rumored future Wii software includes:

1. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree
2. Mario Party 8
3. Pokemon Battle Revolution
4. Mario Strikers Charged
5. DK Bongo Blast
6. Super Mario Galaxy
7. Battalion Wars 2
8. Disaster: Day of Crisis
9. Project H.A.M.M.E.R.
10. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
11. Metroid Prime 3 Corruption
12. Wii Health
13. Wii Music
14. Mario & Sonic At The Olympics
15. Animal Crossing Wii
16. Forever Blue
17. Wii Motor Sports
18. The Legend of Zelda Wii
19. Fire Emblem Wii
20. Yoshi's Island Wii

Nintendo still has yet to announce Wii versions of successful series such as Pikmin, Wave Race, Nintendogs, Chibi Robo, Kirby, F-Zero, Pilotwings and Starfox. Add the typical Mario sports entries—golf, baseball, basketball—and there are still many possibilities for first-party projects.

Just to be on the safe side, I'll put money on those unannounced games to be Mario Party 9, Mario Party 10, Mario Party 11, Mario Party 12, Mario Party 13, Mario Party 14, Mario Party 15, Mario Party 16, Mario Party 17, Mario Party 18, Mario Party 19, Mario Party 20, Mario Party 21, Mario Party 22, Mario Party 23, Mario Party 24, Mario Party 25, Mario Party 26, and Mario Party 27. Michael McWhertor

Nintendo Develops 45 New Games for Wii, 79 Titles for DS Player [Bloomberg]

Confirmed: 360 Warranty Extended

Brian Crecente — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:00:05 MST

Just the other day I was listening to my brother rant about the death of his three week old Xbox 360.

"How can they only have a 90 day warranty? They must realize their machines don't last."

Then he started contemplating buying the extended warranty, then he decided if his second crapped out on him he'd just return it and buy another system.

This should cheer him up: Microsoft today announced that they are extending their warranty for the console to one year and they will reimburse anyone who paid out-of-warrant repair charges within their first year of ownership.

Now that's how you do things.

Hit the jump for the Word-fucked-up version of the press release. Brian Crecente

For Release 6 a.m. PST

Dec. 22, 2006

Microsoft Extends Xbox 360 Warranty to One Year

Shoppers can buy with added confidence this holiday season as Microsoft expands its warranty for Xbox 360 from 90 days to one year.

REDMOND, Wash. Dec. 22, 2006 In a move to benefit customers, Microsoft Corp. announced today that it will change the Xbox 360 warranty from 90 days to one year from the date of purchase in the United States and Canada. Microsoft extended the warranty in these territories to be consistent with the standard one-year Xbox 360 warranty that is available throughout most of the world. The news is reason to celebrate this holiday season; it applies to both would-be purchasers and those who already have Xbox 360 and are still within their first year of ownership.

Effective today, the one-year warranty is now the standard for the Xbox 360 console. Customers who experience hardware issues with their Xbox 360 within one year of purchase can have their consoles repaired at no cost. Moreover, the new warranty policy is retroactive, so consumers who may have already paid for an out-of-warranty Xbox 360 repair within one year of purchase will be eligible for reimbursement of their console repair charges.

Customer satisfaction is a central focus and priority for the Xbox 360 system, said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. In addition to jaw-dropping features such as high-definition graphics, an amazing catalog of over 160 games, and social online and entertainment experiences on Xbox Live., the Xbox 360 system now offers this extended warranty upgrade. It is truly the industry s most compelling home entertainment offering.

Customers who have already paid out-of-warranty repair charges within their first year of ownership can expect reimbursement checks for the amount of their console repair in approximately 10 weeks. Reimbursements will be automatically distributed, so customers need not contact Microsoft. Customers who have questions regarding this policy change or experience any hardware issues should visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/contact where they can check their warranty status, find troubleshooting information for common issues and find Xbox support contact information.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming network and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 is expected to have a catalog of 160 high-definition games by the end of 2006 and to be available in nearly 40 countries by the end of 2007. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT ) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.