That's according to a report on the Nintendo DS follow up to Picross DS from Cubed3 which offers good news for serious Picross fans. If they live in Europe. The North American version of the game, still not dated and not on Nintendo of America's release list for "early 2010."

Of course, given the region unlocked nature of Nintendo DS games, gamers in North America can easily import the European version of Picross 3D after February 5 of next year, but that's little comfort and confuses the impression that Europe is the afterthought region.

So when I say "What do we want from Nintendo of America?!", you say "Picross 3D for North America!" And then when I say "When do we want it?!", you say "Before Europe!"

Ready? What do we want from Nintendo of America?

Nintendo Confirms Picross 3D for Europe [Cubed 3]

And that date is someday in February of 2010, according to an update on the matter from Eurogamer. Since Konami hasn't responded to requests for clarification, we'll mentally prepare ourselves for the psychological impact of a similar release time frame.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories for Feb [Eurogamer]

This PAL exclusive package for Insomniac Games' upcoming PS3 adventure offers more than just a manual and Blu-ray disc. It offers a fancy slipcase with a lenticular cover, giving Ratchet & Clank fans an opportunity to say the word "lenticular."

There are a handful of other goodies thrown in, like the obligatory art book and a free voucher for the downloadable "Discovery Package" level. You'll have to hit up the official European PlayStation blog for additional details.

Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time Collector's Edition [PlayStation.blog]

Now, says Microsoft, it has pulled ahead in the region, giving the Xbox 360 a lead over its PlayStation 3 competition to the tune of 1 million. Chris Lewis, VP for Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business in the Europe-Middle East-Africa region, cited GfK Chart-Track when whipping out the figure to GamesIndustry.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe boss David Reeves recently boasted of Sony's continued dominance in the territory, saying that the PS3 was still ahead of its hi-def competition by a few hundred thousand consoles. That was in response to Microsoft mouthing off via press release about its pre-holidays successes.

Lewis, it must be noted, does not factor in down under territories and not PAL as a whole, which we'll assume will be leading to more petty squabbling about who's in front and which numbers really count and yadda yadda yadda.

Besides, they're both losing to the Wii anyway.

Xbox 360 definitely leads PS3 in Europe, says Microsoft [GamesIndustry.biz]

Of course it's only available to European readers and people who can put on a good cockney accent, via PSN duplicity.

Technically, the Leipzig Games Convention still exists, but the folks putting it on just announced that they've decided to refocus the gaming event on just online and mobile games. Seriously. This new, seemingly horrible, convention will run from July 31 to August 2.

But the thing is, it was so, so, so great before that it's hard to just turn our backs on it cold turkey.

Unless there's another draw... say in Cologne.

This morning the Cologne Gamescom (yes, with an M) sent out an email reminding everyone just how great their new, first-time-ever show is going to be. Never mind that there's not more camping at the venue, or the hijinks of the "beach" or that Cologne, I'm told, is crowded and hard to get around even without the help of an international convention.

The Gamescom, which runs from August 19 through the 23, has the backing of quite a few big companies like Ubisoft, Electronic Arts and the German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software.

So yes, this is exactly what it sounds like: A pissing match with gamers caught in the middle, full stream.

I've been so intrigued by the debate that I recently commissioned a freelancer to tackle the story, talking to both sides, and the ESRB, about the issues at hand and why both feel they should be the one left in charge.

After an interview with the British Board of Film Classification our writer reached out to PEGI for a similar interview, only to be asked to hand over the transcript of the BBFC interview and questioned on Kotaku's support of PEGI.

It seems that the PR agency handling PEGI is willing to set up an interview, but only if we side with them. The full letter, minus the names, on the jump.

Hi XXXX,

Thanks for this.

Is there any way that we could have confirmation from Kotaku’s editor that he supports PEGI – that way it might ease the way to getting an interview set up. Also, can you find out to me how many unique hits Kotaku gets in the UK. The reason is ELSPA may come back and say Kotaku is just US based. The fact that Kotaku is a US blog might make things tough – just trying to help set this up. J

Also if you could provide the transcript for the BBFC interview that’d be useful.

Finally, do you have the full contact details of Kotaku’s editor – as we currently have nothing (name, email, tel, postal address)

Best regards,
XXXX

Microsoft's VP of the Xbox business in Europe Chris Lewis dropped all the right words in a statement, noting "momentum," "community" and entertainment experiences. Finally things are lookin' up for Microsoft. About time those kids got some good news.

Xbox 360 hits six million sales in Europe [GamesIndustry.biz]

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]