The publisher has secured exclusive rights to the franchise, it announced today, granting it the power to publish Dragon Ball games "across all major consoles and hand held platforms." Prior to today's announcement, the license was handled by both Namco Bandai and Atari in the Americas. The latter had a dispute with rights holder FUNimation in 2007, with the former already responsible for publishing Dragon Ball games in its native Japan.

Atari's loss of the license can't be good revenue news for the company, which has been giving signals of financial shakiness all year.

The first three games to ship after the Namco Bandai deal are Dragon Ball: Raging Blast for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo for Wii, and Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans for Nintendo DS.

With the Dragon Ball saga spanning "11 years of manga, over 500 television episodes, [and] 23 feature films," according to the publisher, we envision a long, rich history of dude's with bad hair and hideous character designs punching each other in the sack for decades to come.

The Xbox 360 and the PS3 are getting a Dragon Ball Z title called Raging Blast that appears to be a sequel to Dragon Ball Z Sparking! The Nintendo Wii is getting a Dragonball action game, which doesn't appear to have a subtitle.

It does have Bulma character art that seems different from how see appeared in last fall's Dragonball DS (Dragonball Origins in the West). See comparison.

AH HA! She has a name tag on the DS version. We knew there was something off.

バンナムはドラゴンボールのゲームをいくつ出したら気がすむの？ [はちま起稿]

Dragonball Teaser Trailer [Trailer Addict - Thanks wwm0nkey!]

Hit the jump for another!

Denis from Canada says, "Here's a one star dragon ball we made out of origami paper. Wheeeee!" Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee, indeed!

Those aren't Sony buttons! What's going on here?!

ボタンが360なのにｗｗｗ [Namidame.2ch]
PlayStation Japan (cache) [Official Site Thanks, muu!]

DBZ Fan Movie [SWF Blog via Japanator]

There's a closer shot after the jump.

Exclusive Pics [HoyCinema, Thanks Pedro!]

Atari Gets Warning From Nasdaq [Forbes]

According to IGN the terms of the agreement see Atari issuing a $2.7 million cash payment and $800,000 in "royalty payment reductions." In even better news for Atari, the publisher is said to have a new candle at its headquarters, giving much needed light to employees following a series of electric bills that have gone unpaid. Rumors point to executives also having found a previously unclaimed crust of bread.

Atari Hangs On To Dragon Ball Z License [IGN]

To: Bashcraft
From: Oummada H.
RE: Scoop Dragon Ball Z live action movie (casting)

20th Century Fox

My name is Oummada H., I'm writting this letter to let you know, that I went to play in the Dragon Ball Z movies. First of all, because I have what it takes to play the role of Sangoku in your movie. I have never palyed in a movie, but everyone needs to start somewhere. Second of all, you can see on the pictures, that I have joined to this letter, that I have the same haircut as Sangoku and we all know that Sangoku's hair is the power. Third of all, I know everyting on Dragon Ball's Z univers, except the personel view of Akira Toriyama. To conclude, I have a twin brother that looks just like me. I hope your will read this letter and see my pictures and realize that I am the real Sangoku.

Dear, Mr Akira Toriyama.

My name is Oummada H. and I think that I could play the role of Sangoku in Dragon Ball Z for 20th Century Fox, who bought the rights of the movies. As you can see on my pictures, from my personel view, I look just like Sangoku. I'm sure by seeing those pictures, you'll be shocked by the resemblance of Sangoku and I. I also have a twin brother that looks just like me, I think you know where I want to come to thank you, for taking the time to read my letter.

for contact my: (his email address - Ed.)

He's a Spurs fan.

And an Expos fan. He smokes, too. In case 20th Century Fox and Akira Toriyama are interested, we also have pics of Oummada next to a plant, sitting on a bench and with his dog.

According to the Gamespot report of the complaint, FUNimation sees the license agreement as terminated, with Atari disagreeing and continuing to sell the games based on the series.

For those who aren't twelve years old, Dragon Ball Z is a long running anime series based on the manga created by Akira Toriyama, who's also responsible for art direction of Dragon Quest and Blue Dragon, among other non-dragony things. Dragon Ball also happens to be one of Atari's major revenue sources, in a time when it really, really needs the revenue.

Let's all hope for a speedy resolution, so that our nation's children can continue to enjoy more Dragon Ball goofiness.

Atari fights to keep Dragon Ball Z [Gamespot]

Yes, the Wii does have an online component to it folks, and Atari is looking to prove it in a big way with Tenkaichi 3, which means that I won't have to settle for getting my ass handed to me by my nephew when there are so many other people out there ready to kick my butt into mountainsides again and again.

My main problem with the last game has been completely done away with, replacing the weird screen-in and out component for super moves with simple motion controls, which allow you to still look like a badass without looking like a badass with an unhealthy obsession with a little circle floating obtrusively in the middle of your screen. It felt very and fluid while still allowing for a range of motion wide enough to 'accidentally' smack your opponent in the face with your control should they start to win.

The rest is really more of what the fans of the series want. There are now over 150 characters to unlock via the relatively complex fusion system from the last title, with 30 fighting arenas to keep things fresh. The graphics look a bit sharper but overall there doesn't seem to be too much more in the way of tweaks, and honestly that's fine with me. My one major problem has been addressed, and the addition of online fighting is just icing on the cake, as long as it, you know...works. We'll find out for sure this holiday season! *keeps fingers crossed*

Vague confirmation comes via a job listing; however, it appears that the Dragon Ball Z MMORPG (with its clever title Dragon Ball Online) is getting an Xbox 360 incarnation as well. The game's developer NTL is looking for programmer — With Xbox 360 experience, preferred. Nothing official has been announced for the Xbox 360, but hey, it makes sense! If this is true (and we don't see why not), guess DB Online is yet another game for Microsoft to pin its elusive Japan hopes and dreams on. That is, unless there's a PS3 version in the works as well! Brian Ashcraft

Xbox 360 Experience Wanted [Game Job via VGB]

Mark your calendars. In 2008, a MMO Dragon Ball Z will be hitting Japan. Being beta testing in Korea this summer, the game is set 200 years after the manga's end. The plot? An evil organization has divided up the world, which players set out to reunite. What's more, players start off as kids, grow into adults and can select any of the major races — Saiyan, Nameks and Humans. Just as you'd expect with any MMO, players can also make their own avatars. Artist Akira Toriyama will be lending a hand to design characters, backgrounds and generally make sure the game looks all Toriyama-ey. Brian Ashcraft

Dragon Ball Online [Japanator]

I own a disturbing amount of Dragon Ball Z and Yu-Gi-Oh video games for the sole purpose of humiliating my nephew. Like Rocky Balboa taking on the younger boxers to prove he still has it, defeating the chipper young 12 year old has become one of my main goals in life, and one I am reaching with far less frequency than I would like. Thus I practice in my free time, and this morning's session involved the Wii version of Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2. I've spent some time with the PS2 version only to get bored rather quickly, so I picked up the Wii version to see if it was any better, and figuring I would have an advantage since he doesn't have the new Nintendo console yet. I'm crafty that way.

So I spun up the disc to poke around for a few minutes before breakfast. It's now five hours later, and I really would rather be in the next room playing it right now. It is amazing the difference actual physical movement makes in a fighting game.

As with most Wii games, control is awkward at first. I would definitely recommend going through the tutorial or at least reading the manual before playing. The nunchuck stick moves you around. Shaking it while pointing the stick in any directions sends you dashing. Holding the C button and dipping it up and down controls flying height. The A button on the Wiimote punches, the B button kicks, and pointing it upwards blocks.
The most interesting control element has to be the special moves. Once your ki energy is powered up, you hold down the triggers on the respective controllers. Many moves then require you to move the Wiimote off the screen in a particular direction and then back again, triggering a super move. It is really hard not to pose dramatically while doing this. Even better are the moves that make you pull the controllers back in unison, and then jab them both outward. Pretty sure I woke my girlfriend up this morning shouting, "Take that, bitch!" at the television screen as I unloaded a Kamehameha (which amazingly enough was in my Open Office Writer spell check}. It's exhilarating, and it totally makes you feel like a complete bad ass.

It's amazing how much more fun I'm having with this game on the Wii, rather than playing it on the PS2. Not only does the Wii hold the potential to generate some innovative new game play types, it can revitalize older genres, adding a bit more fun to the mix. Plus, if my nephew starts to win I can always deliver a Wiimote to the windpipe. Accidentally, mind you. These old reflexes aren't what they used to be. Michael Fahey