Both products have since been removed from Nintendo's software release list. We hope this wasn't too crushing of a blow for your future Nintendo hardware-based purchases.

SEGA comments on Nintendo date listing [Eurogamer]

What is Make 10? Apparently, you "will be challenged to master mental arithmetic to overcome the inquisitive inhabitants and understand the true power of the number 10." Finally. Math.

NoE also dates Wario Land: The Shake Dimension for a September 26 release on the Wii. Surely the North American ship date can't be too far behind. European ates for many third party games, including Samba de Amigo, Manhunt 2, Okami and the lovely Soulcalibur Legends await you at the official site.

NOE announces summer 2008 release schedule [Nintendo]

Perhaps it's just a localization nightmare, but we hope that SCEA will invest in the game(?) and bring it to American PS3s. We've got an e-mail in with them now, just to see how interested they are in escorting Afrika out of Japan.

No Afrika for Europe, says Sony [Eurogamer]

The analyzing wizards at DFC see an Xbox future filled with doom and gloom, with the 360 "continuing to struggle" in Europe, despite UK acceptance. They have better news for the Euro industry as a whole, with 2008 expected "to break all kinds of sales records." And they all lived happily ever after. The end.

DFC: 360 Likely "Biggest Loser" in Europe [Next-Gen]

No comforting word on whether it will be partially backward compatible, as the current eighty gigger is, nor is there solid word on a potential pack-in. We wouldn't be at all surprised to see it packed in with some of next quarter's biggest releases, Grand Theft Auto IV and Metal Gear Solid IV.

80GB PS3 planned for the UK this summer? [CVG - thanks, Random!]

Maybe, when keyboard support is added in Rock Band 2 with an awesome keytar controller, we'll finally get a playable version of Europe's "The Final Countdown." Until then, this'll have to do.

Play.com Live: EA - Rockband, exclusive EU only tracks revealed [ButtonBandits]

That bad news, which is apparently straight from Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime's mouth, may be one of those things one can chalk up to Wii allocations. That means there could be a strong Wii hardware roll out in the fall across the Atlantic, with a similar flood of Wiis hitting North America for Brawl's March launch. Good news for those still Wii-less, but Euro Wii fans will surely be rioting in the streets. Either that, or enjoying one of its many, many fine outdoor cafes.

Update: Hey, Europe! Put down your torches and rest your rock throwing arm. Nintendo wants to assure you that no official date has been provided for Super Smash Bros. Brawl in your region, a fact backed up by EGM's Shane Bettenhausen. He writes in his 1UP blog that Reggie gave him no such release date, only that Europe was getting Brawl after us Americans.

1UP Yours [1UP]
GDC: loose ends and clarifications [1UP]

But who's not getting it, according to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe? The UK! SCEE tells GamesIndustry.biz that it does "not currently have any plans to release a 120GB PlayStation 3 in the UK", which is PR speak for "Please wait for us to finish approving our press release on the matter."

Sony: no plans to release 120GB PlayStation 3 in UK [GamesIndustry.biz]

In addition to the €449 model, a bundle featuring FIFA 08 and the PS3 is advertised for a price of €489, compounding the value to nearly incomprehensible levels. Oops, I'm thinking that Pro Evo Soccer 2008 would add value. Apologies.

These shots are unconfirmed as official, but certainly don't fly in the face of anything we've been hearing lately about the forthcoming rumored new hardware configuration. Maybe we'll know more on "Big Bang" Friday.

Playstation 3 a 449 € el 11 de octubre segun Carrefour [Tekno Consolas Forums - thanks to all our tipsters!]

PLAYSTATION 3
October 17 - Folklore
October 19 - Lair
October 24 - Eye of Judgment
November 7 - Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
November 28 - Time Crisis 4
December 5 - Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
December 2007 - Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

UPDATE: Please note that these dates were unconfirmed by SCEE themselves, as GamesIndustry.biz wrote earlier today. These dates were provided to us by an anonymous tipster, but appear to have originated on popular message board NeoGAF with no source provided. They should be considered, and should have been considered from the get-go, rumor.

PlayStation 2
October 19 - Buzz! Hollywood Quiz
November 2 - Syphon Filter : Dark Mirror
November 7 - EyeToy Play : Astro Zoo
December TBA - ATV Off Road Fury 4
February 2008 - Pursuit Force : Extreme Justice

PSP
October 17 - Pursuit Force : Extreme Justice
November 2 - Syphon Filter : Logan's Shadow
November 2007 - ATV Off Road : Fury Pro
December 2007 - WipEout Pulse
February 2008 - God of War : Chains of Olympus

Playstation Network (PS3)
October 4 - SnakeBall
October 4 - PixelJunk Racers
October 11 - Home (tentative)
October 18 - High Velocity Bowling
October 24 - Aqua Vita
October 25 - Operation C.F
October 25 - Trials of Topoq
October 25 - Eye Create
November 8 - Tori Emaki
November 15 - Mesmerize
December 5 - Sky Diving
December 6 - Elefunk
December 13 - Pain
December 2007 - Dark Mist

Attendees at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival were witness to a prime example of spin control and knowing your audience.

Former SEE boss Chris Deering did a bit of dub work on the truth by using the price of beer to prove that the Playstation 3 is in fact cheaper than the original Playstation was when it was released.

"In terms of the number of pints of beer you have to forego to get a PS3 it's really just the same as the number of pints of beer you had to forego to get a PS1 back in 1995".

And the math checks out, according to Spong. The Deering Beers Scale proves that you could purchase a PS3 and nearly three beers for the cost of a PSOne. Whoever figured that out for Deering deserves a raise, in Guinness.

PlayStation 3 Cheaper Than PSOne In Beer [Spong]

While former Twisted Metal producer David Jaffe recently made mention of something Twisted Metal related coming down the pike, I have my doubts that this is how the company would choose to announce it. Furthermore, the resemblance between the above clown and mascot Sweet Tooth isn't exactly striking.

Given Sony's history of creative and often offbeat marketing tactics, my assumption is that the ad is little more than a visual gag that makes the general viewer feel a bit clever when discovering the hidden imagery.

I guess we'll see. I don't expect Sony will squander one of its more popular IPs for the lifecycle of the PS3, but we'll hold tight for a formal announcement before getting our hopes up.

Playstation 3 Advertising [Advertising/Design Goodness]

The other big nominees include the European developers behind Motorstorm, Viva Pinata, DEFCON and Formula One Championship Edition. The full list of nominees for each award are listed at Gamasutra. Michael McWhertor

Crackdown Tops Develop Award Finalists [Gamasutra]

Alongside that potentially good news for the PS3 coming straight from Stringer's mouth, an analyst at Goldman Sachs gives the Cell-powered console a fighting chance. Yuji Fujimori says of the PS3's future:

In the March quarter of 2008, Sony will start making money on the console. In the longer term, I see the PS3's market share at 50 per cent within three years. In the shorter term, I see it at below 30 per cent.

I, too, see it well below 30 percent in the shorter term. As in, right now. One thing I do find interesting is how many analysts target Sony's market share takeover so far down the line. Such an interesting console war, isn't it? Michael McWhertor

Sony buoyed by European sales of PS3 [Financial Times]

The full game, some 60 levels of rubber duck amusement, will set PS3 owners back 4.99 or 3.49. A demo featuring five playable levels, however, is free. The SIXAXIS controlled game sees gamers tilting a floating sink/bathtub thing in an effort to lead a trail of baby ducks down the drain to safety.

I'd be jealous, but I'd wager they don't have a trailer for Ice Cube's "Are We Done Yet?" to fill the hollow in their lives. Oh, the laughs I've had with that one! Michael McWhertor

Karsten from Shizzle Games points out that Microsoft is listing an Saints Row Bundle on their official press site for Europe.

The bundle, which includes the premium system and the game, will be released on Sept. 8 for 439 Euros. Right now it's only showing up as coming to France, but chances are it will be hitting the rest of the continent too. When the hell is the US getting a bundle, that's what I want to know?

Xbox 360 Saints Row Bundle [Shizzle Games]

John Boileau is a master football manager... at least in the game. In Football Manager 2005 he has managed such clubs as Nuneaton Borough, Chievo Verona, Kalmar FF, Doncaster and Chelsea. His management has lead to league, cup and Euro experience, including scouting, honing tactics and personnel management... in the game. So why not apply to become the manager of a real team? Well, because his real world experience amounts to leading the St. Paul's Under 11's to a the Summer Playscheme Cup in 1999.

But that didn't stop Boileau, high on his tremendous success in the game, the 25-year-old decided to apply for the position of Middlesbrough Football Club manager in a cheeky letter he sent to the chairman of the club and which lists his gaming experience as the reason he is a must hire.

The only thing funnier than the application is the rejection letter, which reads, in part:

You were of course the outstanding candidate but after careful consideration we decided against your appointment. Quite frankly we were of the opinion that your tenure with us would have been short lived, as your undoubted talent would result in one of the big European Clubs seeking your services.

We consider it a sign of our progress that someone of your status would consider us.
Yours
S. Gibson
Chairman

Classic! Brian Crecente

beforethirty [via Joystiq]