These newly released screens not only feature more koala motorcycle, they also feature whatever the hell it is in that picture up top. I give up even trying to comprehend.

Hudson's upcoming Snowboard Riot sounds (and looks, a bit) like a cross between SSX Tricky and Wip3out with plenty of power ups and weaponry to glide over as you hurtle down the slopes.

Incidentally, has anyone ever done any research into the kind of weaponry you could fire from the back of a snowboard? I imagine a rocket launcher would cause balance issues. There is potentially a DARPA grant in there if someone wants to run with that. You're welcome.

The game is balance board compatible, although those with weak ankles can use the wiimote & nunchuck to control the game.

The “point” of this game is to have your team of pit crew girls fix up anything and everything that rolls into their station as fast as they can. You accomplish this by clicking on one of your beskirted girls and dragging the Wii Remote icon over the item to be fixed. The Wiimote will rumble when you’ve come upon a part that needs cleaning or repairing. Holding down B sends your girl over to that part and activates the motion-controlled part of the equation where you’ve got to perform some random gesture with the Wiimote so the girl will do her job faster.

These motions don’t sync up with any you’d make in real life to fix a potted plant – more often than not, it devolves into a waggle fest that could potentially injure any of your friends sitting next to you.

The game has two modes: a free-for-all “normal” mode where up to four players can pick up a Wiimote and joint in, or a 2 on 2 versus setup called “abnormal” mode. (Yeah, the names make about as much sense as having chicks fixing wedding cakes in a racetrack pit stop.)

I guess this game could be called fun if played with a certain amount of tolerance for the absurd. You can manufacture that tolerance with about six pints of adult refreshment or half a bag of pixie stix (take your pick). But ultimately, if you can’t wrap your head around the concept of girls in miniskirts fixing things that aren’t usually cars in a pit crew, you’d be wasting up to 1000 Wii points on this game (it’s either going to be 1000 or 800 – Hudson hasn’t decided yet).

Pit Crew Panic will be out in the “next couple of months.” Maybe in that time, they’ll add more cars to the lineup or possibly tweak the motion controls to make more sense. But even if they do, it looks like that toilet is here to stay.

Alien Crush Returns hit WiiWare Monday; I found this out after attending Hudson’s preview event, where I went to preview the game. I also found this out right as the game crashed and had to be reloaded – a process which took something like six minutes. So forgive me for previewing this game instead of reviewing it, but I’ve got to have faith that somehow the retail release of Alien Crush Returns on Monday was way better than what I saw last night.

In addition to long loads and crashing, the game looks dull. How can space aliens be boring? I suppose having only a narrow palette of colors (pea soup green, infected pink, ominous black, and tooth enamel white) will do it – along with repetitive alien designs. You’re playing pinball inside some creature’s organs, so I suppose everything can’t look too different. If pressed, could you really tell the difference between a human kidney a gallbladder, unless you’d gone to medical school? I didn’t think so.

The point of the game as I understand it is a story mode, where you’re “battling” these aliens by playing pinball in their organic mothership. Boss fights involve bouncing off of tentacle things that look like cancer until they explode in monotonous green goo and you progress to the next area. Gameplay is spiced up with power-ups that can do cool things like charge up your shot or save your ball from falling between the flippers.

Ultimately, the mechanics were solid, even if the motion controls were nothing to write home about (you tilt the Nunchuck to perform a bump – a move I don’t normally use in real pinball because it leads to bruised hips and feels like cheating). Most of what you’re doing is waiting for the ball to get done bouncing off of alien innards to get near a flipper so you can press A and send it flying back into the disgusting mush.

There was one bonus level that appeared to be contained within a stomach where little facehugger-looking things kept respawning between the ball and the flippers. Bumping into them twice caused them to explode acid green puss, which didn’t seem to have any other purpose besides looking gross. After getting the ball out of there, the ball wound up back in some chest cavity that contained no less than five toothed-vagina orifices for the ball to go in and out of in the name of racking up points.

I’m not in love with this game. But does it really matter what I say? It already came out Monday. 800 points is pretty cheap for a gross-out; but I’d still rather save up for Dead Space, if I want to see me some aliens.

Hit the jump for the full swag report…

In order of coolness:
Three Bomberman stickers (I heart stickers)
Three mini bottles of liquor I don’t drink
A Fishing Master World Tour sweatband
A drinking flask with the Hudson logo on it (this would have been at the top, if their logo weren’t a giant bee)
A cardboard advertisement for Fishing Master World Tour

To me, this sends mixed messages because on the one hand, you have the games:

And on the other, you have the tools you need to enjoy the games…?

At least my cat seemed interested (if you look closely at the first pic).

Check back for more on the actual games tomorrow!

There may be a possibility, because there are still two main programmers with the company.

Don't expect that any time soon or like ever, but hey, nice to see that those two main programmers are at Hudson. Loyalty is important.

The Game Master Speaks: Hudson's 'Takahashi-Meijin' Goes Retro [Gamasutra]

The company says that they will have Marble Saga: Kororinpa for the Wii, Fishing Master World Tour for the Wii and Bomberman Ultra for the Playstation Network for Japan's annual game show.

I can't wait to get my hands on those virtual marbles. Def a first stop for me at TGS. Yes, that was sarcasm.

FISHING MASTER WORLD TOUR (Wii)
Coming to North America in Q1 2009, FISHING MASTER WORLD TOUR offers over 200 different types of fish to catch, enabling players to catch fish in their native waters around the world in the first ever global fishing game on Wii. FISHING MASTER WORLD TOUR offers over forty different locations to fish from in seven different regions. Players can fish on Easter Island, under the Golden Gate Bridge, on the Amazon River and many more exotic global locations. Staying true to the first version's realistic controls, anglers use the Wii RemoteT and NunchukT to battle fish just like in real life. Pull the Wii Remote left and right as the fish fights from the end of the line and adjust the drag to avoid breaking the line. Once players have their skills down, they can compete with friends with four-person multiplayer modes, catch rare fish with exclusive boss battle controls or jump online in Wi-Fi leaderboards tracking the best players in the U.S.

Marble Saga: Kororinpa (Wii)
Marble Saga: Kororinpa, an exciting puzzle adventure centered around an ant and the quest that he sets out on, is coming exclusively to Wii next spring. The sequel to Kororinpa: Marble Mania, Marble Saga:
Kororinpa is full of new levels for gamers to explore, 4-person multiplayer gameplay, tons of customization, use of a player's Mii, the ability to connect and compete online and the use of the Wii Balance BoardT as features.

The story of Marble Saga: Kororinpa takes place with players heading out on a journey with Anthony the Ant as he searches for the Golden Sunflower. By guiding Anthony's marble around the Ant World and searching for items which are valuable to help reach the Golden Sunflower, gamers will help Anthony save his colony. Along the way players will face dangerous mazes and use cool and amazing widgets and gadgets to guide Anthony to his objective. Marble Saga: Kororinpa offers endless customization as well as the Wii Connect 24T feature which allows gamers to share the unique stages they can create in Edit Mode. In addition gamers can compete through online Leaderboards via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for the best scores in the world.

Bomberman Ultra (PSN)
Bomberman Ultra is an all-new Bomberman for digital download on the PLAYSTATION®Network coming this winter. Fans of the popular series will be able to compete with the best Bomberman players worldwide, as Bomberman Ultra delivers frantic 8-player multiplayer battles online in 14 exotic arenas, as well as 4-player local multiplayer. Players can customize their own Bomberman characters with more than 50 character costumes, resulting in more than 150,000 possible combinations!

Really there isn't much to explain here. It's Bomberman, it's online multiplayer, and it's on its way to the PSN this Winter. Roll screenshots!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, BOMBERMAN TO DEBUT ON THE PLAYSTATION NETWORK WITH BOMBERMAN ULTRA

Hudson Entertainment's Award-Winning Series Returns With 8-Person Online Multiplayer Battles For PLAYSTATION®3 Computer Entertainment System Gamers this Winter

REDWOOD CITY, CA - October 1, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for Hudson Soft, today announced that they are releasing Bomberman Ultra, an all-new Bomberman for digital download on the PLAYSTATION Network this winter. Retaining classic gameplay elements combined with 8-person online multiplayer, full character customization and gorgeous high-definition graphics, Bomberman Ultra is slated to launch worldwide this winter.

"The Bomberman series is one of the most popular brands in the history of Hudson Entertainment," said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. "Bringing Bomberman Ultra to the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system is a natural progression for the series and signifies our faith that the brand is beloved by gamers across all platforms."

Fans of the popular series will be able to compete with the best Bomberman players worldwide, as Bomberman Ultra delivers frantic 8-player multiplayer battles online in 14 exotic arenas, as well as 4-player local multiplayer. Players can customize their own Bomberman characters with more than 50 character costumes, resulting in more than 150,000 possible combinations!

Bomberman Ultra delivers frantic, explosive action, motivating players to remain competitive and fight to prove that they are the best Bomberman player in the world. Utilizing the leaderboards, players can track their ranking to see just how they good they really are, and what they need in order to bomb their way to the top of the chart!

About Bomberman Originally launched in the US in 1987, the game captured gamers' hearts with its simple yet challenging gameplay. With over 60 iterations on nearly all major consoles since then, and over 10 million units sold, winning accolades as the best multiplayer game of all time, this classic game has stood the test of time. Along the way, it also pioneered the "party game" genre, encouraging groups of 4 or more friends to duke it out in one room, and was the first series to contribute to Hudson's reputation as the number one party game company.

『桃太郎電鉄 20周年』のテレビCMにニューハーフなニューフェイス [Famitsu]

This gallery of shiny new Wii screenshots shows off the explodey antics we have come to expect from Bomberman games, but you can see just how well Miis fit in with the original characters.

Still no release date for this WiiWare title, but we'll keep you posted.

“The Bomberman franchise is one of Hudson Entertainment’s most popular,” said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. “We’re driven by the support of the fans and strive to provide unique new gameplay features with each new Bomberman title to please the longtime fans, as well as make the game accessible to newcomers.”

The game will support leaderboards as well as online Bomberman tournaments, including one that will kick off with the launch of the game. When is the game launching? *scans press release, finds nothing* Eventually.

Bomberman Returns For Digital Download on the Wii

REDWOOD CITY, CA - August 26, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North
American publishing arm for HUDSON SOFT, today announced that they are releasing Bomberman Blast, an all-new Bomberman for digital download for WiiWare on the Wii. Retaining the classic features Bomberman fans have come to love such as online multiplayer battles and numerous arenas, Bomberman Blast also incorporates new gameplay elements, including the use of Mii support and 8-person online multiplayer - the first time for Bomberman on Wii!

“The Bomberman franchise is one of Hudson Entertainment’s most popular,” said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. “We’re driven by the support of the fans and strive to provide unique new gameplay features with each new Bomberman title to please the longtime fans, as well as make the game accessible to newcomers.”

Fans of the popular series will be able to compete either solo or as part of a team against the best Bomberman players worldwide, as Bomberman Blast delivers 8-player multiplayer battles online. By using their Miis, gamers will have the opportunity to definitively prove who has the best Mii by sending them into a Bomberman Blast arena, then blowing away the competition! Now who has the best Mii?

Bomberman Blast is the perfect party game, allowing players from around the world to join in on the fun. Up to four players on the same Wii can hop online. Even more, an online leaderboard shows just how good you are! Bomberman Blast is exactly what players would expect from a Bomberman game, with more ammunition, more online battles, and now, the support of Miis!

With the release of Bomberman Blast on WiiWare, Hudson Entertainment will offer several online tournaments, including one that coincides with the game’s launch. For more information on the upcoming tournaments and to register, players can visit www.Hudsonentertainment.com.

Bomberman Blast is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

Blue Oasis - or My Aquarium as it will be called in the states - is coming to WiiWare sometime later this year. What can we expect? gravel, plant life and 40 different types of fish. Hopefully the game will cost 500 points like it does on the Japanese store; I can't imagine paying much more for an aquarium simulator. Regardless, it's kinda nice to see someone taking a twist on the whole Nintendogs craze. The only thing I want to know is can I get my fish to fetch?

『DECA SPORTA（デカスポルタ） Wiiでスポーツ“10”種目！』が全世界で70万本を出荷 [Famitsu]

Interview with Master Higgins [Zentendo]

The Star Soldier R "Shoot Now, Win Prizes Later" kicks off today and runs through June 24th, when players with certain scores in five-minute mode being awarded prizes. The reason I say certain scores, is that Hudson, attempting to be crafty, is awarding prizes to 1st, 10th, and 16th place, with ten users chosen at random out of the remaining players who register to win random prizes.

Up for grabs? The grand prize is 16,000 Wii points and "Hudson's Top 5 Wii Games", which pretty much equates to 16,000 Wii points, give or take a few bucks. Head over to Hudson's web page to sign up for the festivities, and don't be afraid to use the death blossom maneuver if you find yourself in a pinch.

Star Soldier R Tournament and Sweepstakes Announced
Sign Up Today on Hudson's Website

“SHOOT NOW, WIN PRIZES LATER”
TOURNAMENT & SWEEPSTAKES FOR STAR SOLDIER R ANNOUNCED

Players Can Sign Up on Hudson’s Website Beginning May 27

REDWOOD CITY, CA – May 27, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, today announced that registration for both a tournament and a sweepstakes for the recently launched galactic shooter, Star Soldier R for WiiWare™ on Wii™ begins May 27, 2008 and will go through June 24, 2008, concurrent with the contests.

For players who want to see if they can achieve the highest score in Star Soldier R in the nation, Hudson Entertainment is hosting the 'Star Soldier R "Shoot Now, Win Prizes Later" Tournament & Sweepstakes', beginning at 12 a.m. May 27, 2008 and runs through 7 p.m. on June 24, 2008. Gamers will have one month to vie for the high score in Star Soldier R’s “5-Minute Mode” where the top players on the ranking leaderboards have the chance to win prizes. Two rounds of tournament prizes will be awarded based on players' scores. To sign up, players must register on the tournament registration page, located at (http://hudsonentertainment.com/tournament_register.php?tournament_id=2).

The first place winners will receive Hudson's Top 5 Wii Games along with 16,000 Wii Points™, 10th place winners will receive 10,000 Wii Points, and the players in 16th place will win 4,000 Wii Points. For the sweepstakes, 10 users will be picked in one random drawing to win prizes. For more information about the contests please visit the registration page.

Well, well, the other day my DS Lite got a hinge crack.

Didn't the white DS Lite go on sale in Fall 2006? I've used this for the past two years, and then like that, a mysterious crack.

Well, Takahashi Meijin was carting around a DS from the faulty batch. Nintendo's long since fixed that crack problem. Correct?
Master Higgins DS Problem [16Shot via my game news flash]

As far as video game music is concerned, when the service first started, we either had to limit the number of the tracks or use built-in synth to play each tune in order to accommodate the capacity restrictions. I think that most of these technical problems can be solved now because of recent improvements in the technology. I think that it would be truly interesting if games come about using the powerful sound capabilities of the Xbox 360 while incorporating a system that manipulates sound in real-time so that the music interacts on a deep level with the gameplay.

After spending 15 years with Hudson Soft in Japan, Greiner launched the company's U.S. business in 2003 and has led North American operations ever since. The company says that instead of seeking an outside replacement, the U.S division's senior executive and chairman Seiichi Ishigaki will assume Greiner's responsibilities effective May 15th.

"Twenty years at one company is a testament to the quality of the Hudson culture," said Greiner. "When you are with a company for that long, the people become a major part of your life. My blood is Hudson blue. I will continue to support them long after my departure."

Up ahead for Hudson? The upcoming launch of Deca Sports for Wii, what the company calls its "key summer release." Hudson also says it will soon announce new products for WiiWare and other digital download platforms slated for Fall 2008.

STAR SOLDIER R FOR WiiWARE BLASTS ONTO THE Wii

Hudson's Classic Shooter Returns to Put Your Skills to the Test

REDWOOD CITY, CA - April 16, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, today announced that it is bringing Star Soldier R to WiiWare™ on the Wii™. (ESRB Rating: E for Everybody, Fantasy Violence).

This tournament-style outer space shooter challenges players to achieve a high score in either a 2-Minute or 5-Minute Mode. In 2-Minute Mode, players have just enough time to battle through one action-packed stage and one giant boss. In 5-Minute Mode, they also have enough time to fight their way through a second level with its own boss. Additionally, players can play Quick Shot Mode to see if they have the fastest trigger fingers around! Once gamers have their scores, they can go to the online leaderboards to see how they compare with other players in their region and can keep playing to improve their ranking. There's also significant depth and replay value to this challenging game, as players can keep practicing to learn all of the different strategies to achieve bonus points in both 2-Minute and 5-Minute Modes. If they discover them all, players might have a shot at having the top score in the world!

Like traditional vertically-scrolling shooters, the game features a top-down perspective and players fly from the bottom of the screen towards the top, shooting at any ship or structure that obstructs their path. As players progress, they can collect power-ups to increase their weapon or shield strength, and an all-new Force System enables gamers to collect up to five orbiting satellites that can be held close to the ship for defensive cover, or can be sent out for additional firepower. Players can also decide how they want to play, choosing from three control schemes - Nunchuk™ and Wii Remote™, Wii Remote only (held sideways) or the Classic Controller™.

"There is a lot of excitement surrounding WiiWare and we are proud that Star Soldier R will be one of the titles available on the platform," said John Greiner, President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. "For Hudson, the potential of WiiWare is endless, and gamers can be certain that we will be bringing additional content to WiiWare in the coming months."
###

Two years from now will be the time when game-software developers' profits are expected to grow the most, after the winner and loser for consoles becomes clear. I will ensure earnings jump in the next three years by promoting licensing of our games and increasing spending on promotions.

As I said, it is one of the prettiest games on XBLA, and the visuals alone are worth the $10 worth of points I dropped for it. Playing through as Ruby, one of the two initially available characters, I was really impressed by the variety of enemies, the colorful effects, and the sheer amount of things flying across my screen at the same time. Then I played as Tempest and my jaw completely dropped.

Tempest's weapons are simply breathtaking. Flowing globules of frost and fire issue forth from his weapon, flowing like slime over enemies, splashing against them with impressive physics for a shmup. It really is a sight that online videos do not do justice.

The gameplay itself is pretty standard. Fight your way through hordes of enemies while collecting various power ups and charging up your super weapon. So far the game is relatively easy, and the initial three continues should last you quite awhile once you get the lay of the land. Once you complete a level in arcade mode you unlock it in the challenge mode as well, allowing you to hone your skills alone or with a friend via co-op to a razor's edge.

My biggest disappointment, as I said earlier, comes from the presentation. There is no storyline for Omega Five. You choose a character and off you go, blasting the living hell out of things without any real overly obvious motivation. There are no difficulty options...just a simple menu allowing you to start a new game, play offline multiplayer, adjust the settings and read up on gameplay.

Omega Five is definitely worth the $10 to shmup fans everywhere. It's a beautiful example of what is possible via Xbox Live Arcade, while at the same time being a sometimes painful reminder of what isn't.

Get Your Game On This Summer With Hudson Entertainment's Deca Sports For The Nintendo WiiTM

Ten Unique Sports Including Basketball, Supercross, Figure Skating and Curling Form the Most Comprehensive Sports Game Ever

REDWOOD CITY, CA - January 3, 2007 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for HUDSON SOFT, today announced that it is bringing Deca Sports, a unique ten-sport game, exclusively to the Wii™ home video game system in Summer 2008. Combining ten sporting events into one addicting and fun-filled game, Deca Sports offers an immersive experience for fans of any age. The sporting events: Beach Volleyball, Snowboard Cross, Badminton, Basketball, Curling, Figure Skating, Archery, Supercross, Soccer and Kart Racing.

"We have seen tremendous growth in the casual sports gaming market in the last few years, and saw an opportunity that would be a perfect fit for the Nintendo Wii" said John Greiner, President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. "With Deca Sports we wanted to offer a sports package that is unrivaled in terms of sheer number of available sports. More importantly, the game is easy to play, but offers layers of depth that even hardcore sports enthusiasts will love to play."

Each sport in the game uses the Wii Remote™ in unique yet accessible ways. With a subtle swing of the Wii Remote™ players can hit and spike the ball in Beach Volleyball, while twists of the wrist produce a wild ride down the slopes in Snowboard Cross. In Figure Skating players need to keep to the music and properly time all of their jumps and spins in order to impress the judges while passing the ball and lining up shots is essential in Soccer. All ten sports support both single player and multiplayer modes, in addition to a training mode to practice essential skills. The wide range of events and modes make Deca Sports the perfect game for players and sports fans of all ages.

Hudson Entertainment Dates Omega Five For Xbox Live Arcade

Sci-Fi Side-Scrolling Shooter Coming January 9 for 800 Microsoft Points

REDWOOD SHORES, CA - January 3, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, today announced that Omega Five for Xbox LIVE Arcade will be available to consumers on January 9, 2008 for 800 Microsoft Points. Published by Hudson and developed by Natsume, the game is an entirely new original IP featuring a side-scrolling shooter set in a gorgeous 3D environment.

Taking place in a far-flung future, Omega Five delivers hardcore action never seen before on the platform, while providing visually stunning graphics that pushes the limits for a digital download game. The game is set in multiple 3D environments and features incredible special effects and enormous battles, all in high definition. Omega Five is distinct in that players can choose from multiple humanoid characters, each with their own unique special attacks and upgradeable weapons, which they can shoot in 360 degrees. Omega Five also includes a local co-op function so a friend can join in on the aerial mayhem.

Hudson also released details on the final playable character. R.A.D. is another of Omega Five's unlockable warriors and is very similar to Ruby. Her skintight suit allows her to move much more quickly than Ruby, letting her weave through waves of enemy fire, though it also slows down her aiming.

. Weapon Type A: Vulcan Laser Cannon - R.A.D.'s initial weapon blasts enemies with rapid-fire laser beams. As the weapon is upgraded, the rate of fire increases, allowing her to unleash a non-stop barrage of laser fire.

. Weapon Type B: Reflecting Laser Beam - R.A.D.'s second weapon is a continuous laser beam that allows her to cut a swath of destruction through lesser enemies. Upgrades increase the power of the beam, splitting it in two, which also reflect off of certain surfaces. This lets R.A.D. attack enemies from around corners.

. Weapon Type C: Lightning Gun - Her final main weapon is a high-intensity lightning gun that roasts enemies. Upgrades increase the power, letting R.A.D. slice through enemies at will, as well as adding secondary lightning bolts that shoot out from the main beam at nearby enemies, doing incremental damage.

. Alternate Attack - R.A.D. has one alternate attack, which sends out satellite that can instantly destroy lesser enemies or anchor onto stronger enemies. After the satellite latches onto an enemy, it deals continuous damage, and R.A.D. is still able to fire in any direction. Additionally, while the satellite is floating around R.A.D., it can block enemy fire.

. Dimension Field - All characters can quickly teleport to another dimension for a brief time, allowing them to avoid enemy attacks, though at the expense of a small amount of life.

. Ultimate Burst - All characters can unleash an enormously destructive nuke-like attack, after having collected at least 100 p-chips (the pink triangles that appear after defeating enemies) to fill one p-jail (the golden triangles at the bottom left of the screen).

Konami unveils first Wii pair from Hudson Soft...

Fishing Master and Sports Island mark first titles to emerge from Konami Digital Entertainment/Hudson Soft deal
Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced the first titles to emerge from its recent publishing agreement with Hudson Soft. Fishing Master and Sports Island have both been created specifically for the Wii™ and will be released in Q1 and Q2 2008 respectively.

Fishing Master makes full use of the motion-sensitive Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers, and is a fun simulation allowing users to test their angling skills as they attempt to catch over 100 species of fish. Players use the Wii Remote to cast their line, aiming for the silhouettes of fish in the game's beautifully-realised lakes. With the line cast, the Nunchuk is then used to reel in any catches by rotating the analogue stick. However, with the fish putting up valiant fights to get free, careful movement of the Remote is needed to counter their thrashing movements.

Fishing Master boasts a wealth of gameplay modes, with a Tutorial easing users into the intricacies of the game, while solo anglers can opt to earn points by catching rare fish and ultimately receiving the esteemed Fishing Master accolade, or can attempt to catch every species in the game to complete a graphic Fish Encyclopedia. Certain quests and special tournaments offer fishing further variety and let you explore new areas rich in fish. Four players can also compete simultaneously in the game's multi-player mode, each attempting catch bigger and rare fish than their rivals!

Sports Island is an altogether more athletic offering, pulling together ten sporting events and pushing the player to their limits. Players are invited to play addictive Adidas-endorsed versions of Beach Volley, Football, Badminton, Basketball, Curling, Figure Skating, Archery, Moto Cross, Snowboarding and Kart Race. Each uses the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in unique yet accessible ways. As such, a subtle swing of the Wii Remote is used to hit the ball in Volleyball, while subtle twists are needed to ride the slopes in the Snowboarding section.

Up to four players can compete in each event, and, with its entertaining multi-player modes and varied gameplay, Sports Island is an ideal game for players of all ages. Each sport is brilliantly realised and intuitive to play, with sports such as Football and Basketball featuring all the passes and skill of the real thing but without sacrificing immediacy. Similarly, the likes of Figure Skating and Curling demand precision from the player and a different range of skills, guaranteeing hours of entertainment as players attempt to climb the in-game leader boards at the expense of their friends.

Hudson Entertainment today announced a reorganization of its mobile games division. While the mobile game business has continued to grow over the last 3 years, porting cost management continues to be a challenge. As a result, Hudson has reduced its Q&A and porting staff, and initiated a more cost effective outsourced solution. Hudson will continue to develop, publish and market mobile games, with eight game titles on the product roadmap for 2008, including Bomberman Land, Military Madness 2, R-Type, as well as three new IPs. Hudson's other business lines, including music, console games and digital downloads are unaffected.

"It is always a difficult decision to layoff staff members, but it was important that we realign our mobile games business to ensure that we can move forward." says John Greiner, President and CEO of Hudson. "We are excited about recent developments in the mobile industry and we strongly believe in the future of the mobile phone as a content distribution channel. We will continue to produce and distribute quality games and other content for mobile phones."

• Top Hunter (Neo Geo)
• Puyo Puyo 2 (Sega Genesis)
• The King of Fighters '94 (Neo Geo)
• Baseball Stars 2 (Neo Geo)
• Bases Loaded (NES)
• The Dynastic Hero (TurboGrafx-16)
• Power Golf (Neo Geo)

Also worth noting is a rating for Advance Wars: Days of Ruin, which sports an E10+ rating. A bit surprising, considering the darker nature of the Nintendo DS sequel and Nintendo's own expectations of a T rating.

ESRB Game Ratings

Embark on an Epic Journey With Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts Hudson Entertainment Brings Classic Action RPG Franchise to PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) and Nintendo DS Next Year

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., November 15, 2007 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for Hudson Soft, announced today that it is bringing Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts to North America in early 2008 for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) and Nintendo DS. Each version of the game will feature a unique story with epic battles, an all new assortment of weapons and many unique fighting styles. Like the classic game, the new versions will feature deep and customizable multiplayer adventuring.

Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts will be available February 2008.

In the game for the PSP system, players are trained in weaponry and mystical forces as Warriors of Ancient Arts. On a quest and ready to uncover the fate of a legendary kingdom, gamers will prepare to battle demonic forces and monstrous creatures. DE: WAA features hundreds of variations of weapons, armor and equipment that can be chosen and upgraded throughout the adventure to defeat enemies. Unique for the PSP system, players have the ability to choose their warfare style with more than 150 different kinds of fighting arts, including Big Bang Arts, allowing three players to team up to triple their destructive power in Ad-Hoc Multiplayer mode.

In the DS version, gamers find themselves in a land plagued by a legion of undead, monstrous soldiers. Commanded by the Demon God, the Evil Menace is determined on bringing Westoria Kingdom to its final days. The story takes place centuries after the events of the PSP version, as a legend foretells of a hero who will rise to face the threat.

Gamers must rediscover the lost Ancient Fighting Arts of Westoria in order to restore peace to a once sprawling and vibrant kingdom. With more than 60 different fighting arts across 8 lost Ancient Fighting Art schools, players can become a skilled warrior to successfully wage battle against dangerous enemies such as the Demon God's undead soldiers, mutated monsters, and an army of ancient automatons. To assist in battle, the game offers hundreds of weapons, armor and equipment; all can be upgraded along the way. Players can also choose from three hero races and three character classes to form a unique warrior for battle. For a group effort, 3 players can join forces to battle the Demon god's minions via Nintendo's Wireless Connection.

"Bringing a classic franchise like Dungeon Explorer to the handheld gaming systems of today continues Hudson's pledge to deliver engaging new content to gamers, while tapping into the nostalgia of the popular series," said John Greiner, President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. "Dungeon Explorer updates the much loved series with an all-new engaging story and introduces new RPG gameplay elements never before seen in a handheld game."

For more information on Hudson Entertainment or Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts, please visit www.hudsonentertainment.com.

Eds Note: According to reader Marc: "At least the guy on the picture pointing to the poster is Swiss.
The mentioned site PCEDaisakusen was also initiated by Swiss people. Probably the German banner on PCEDaisakusen is confusing because we also speak German in Switzerland (one of the official languages):
Please give the right nerd nation credit and change the title, thanks.

Q). Do you have any plans to bring Omega 5 to PlayStation's PSN?

A). Not at present, no.

Q). Any particular reasons why not?

A). The specs of the respective hardware were one reason. We also determined that certain aspects of the development would be easier using the 360. The project was conceived of first for the 360, and we kept it exclusive to keep the development team small.

Q). Natsume has a long history of working with publisher Marvelous Interactive. Why the switch to Hudson this time?

A). For one, Hudson is very well established outside of Japan. They would also be able to help us take the game multi-platform if we ever decide to pursue that.

Hudson Entertainment Reveals New Character & Assets for Omega Five on XBLA

Meet Ruby, Omega Five's lithe heroine

Hudson Entertainment today unveiled details and new screen shots of Ruby, a well-rounded warrior who's both nimble and deadly—if just a bit under-dressed. With a stockpile of awesome weapons and dangerous attacks, Ruby is a formidable foe.

Weapon Type A: Vulcan Laser Cannon -

Ruby's initial weapon blasts enemies with rapid-fire laser beams. As the weapon is upgraded, the rate of fire increases, allowing her to unleash a non-stop barrage of laser fire.

Weapon Type B: Reflecting Laser Beam -

Ruby's second weapon is a continuous laser beam that allows her to cut a swath of destruction through lesser enemies. Upgrades increase the power of the beam, splitting it in two, which also reflect off of certain surfaces. This lets Ruby attack enemies from around corners.

Weapon Type C: Lightning Gun -

Her final main weapon is a high-intensity lightning gun that roasts enemies. Upgrades increase the power, letting Ruby slice through enemies at will, as well as adding secondary lightning bolts that shoot out from the main beam at nearby enemies, doing incremental damage.

Alternate Attack -

Ruby has one alternate attack, which sends out a satellite that can instantly destroy lesser enemies or anchor onto stronger enemies. After the satellite latches onto an enemy, it deals damage and Ruby's weapon auto-aims to that spot, giving her near-perfect accuracy until the enemy dies or the satellite detaches. Additionally, while the satellite is floating around Ruby, it can block enemy fire.

Temporal Dodge -

All characters can quickly teleport to another dimension for a brief time, allowing them to avoid enemy attacks, though at the expense of a small amount of life.

Ultimate Burst -

All characters can unleash an enormously destructive nuke-like attack, after having collected at least 100 p-chips (the pink triangles that appear after defeating enemies) to fill one p-jail (the golden triangles at the bottom left of the screen).

Hudson Entertainment Reveals a New Character in Omega Five for XBLA

The Tempest—A Four-Armed, hulking alien—Wields Volcanic Fire, Corrosive Acid and Molten Metal

The Tempest is a hulking, four-armed alien, with no problem plowing through hordes of enemies in Omega Five, thanks to his thick skin.

· Weapon Type A: Volcanic Fire - The Tempest's initial weapon is a scorching stream of fire. The weapon's alternate attack allows The Tempest to attack enemies around corners, as it locks onto a target while the fire curves to roast enemies.

· Weapon Type B: Corrosive Acid - The Tempest's second weapon is a highly corrosive blast of acid. Like the fire, the main attack comes out in a stream of liquid death, but the acid's alternate attack shoots the acid in a wide angle, allowing The Tempest to destroy enemies in a wide area with limited range.

· Weapon Type C: Molten Metal - The third main weapon for The Tempest is a blast of molten metal. While the other two weapons are streams, the metal comes out in boiling bursts. For this weapon's alternate attack, The Tempest shoots four bursts at once, which home in nearby enemies.

· Reflector Barrier - When an enemy shot gets close to The Tempest, it slows down, and The Tempest is able to reflect it back at enemies (by flicking the right analog stick), using their own fire against them!

· Temporal Dodge - All characters can quickly teleport to another dimension for a brief time, allowing them to avoid enemy attacks, though at the expense of a small amount of life.

Ultimate Burst - All characters can unleash an enormously destructive nuke-like attack, after having collected at least 100 p-chips (the pink triangles that appear after defeating enemies) to fill one p-jail (the golden triangles at the bottom left of the screen).

We have worked hard to make sure that a CD based game will fit on Wii's built-in memory. Yes, we are using some compression technology since CDs can hold several hundred megs of memory, far bigger than the traditional Hucards could hold. For instance, the sound has been compressed, however gamers should not really notice any audible difference.

Also included in the release list update is Samurai Ghost, the side-scrolling slasher sequel to the Namco release The Genji and the Heike Clans that once graced Namco Museum Vol. 4 in years past. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to start overturning cars and setting them alight based on this exciting news.

List of Titles to be Released [Hudson via 1UP]