Princess Zelda has been getting herself kidnapped on a regular basis for 23 years now, and Nintendo is ready for a change. Today the company announces that for the first time ever, Zelda will be accompanying Link on his quest to save Hyrule - at least in spirit.

Seen in the GameTrailers exclusive trailer below, Princess Zelda's body still gets kidnapped, but her spirit is free to help Link out as he rides the rails on his customizable train and delves deep into the various dungeons littered about the countryside like gopher holes on a golf course. In said dungeons, Zelda's spirit will be able to possess Phantoms, hulking suits of armor, allowing the player to control both characters in order to win battles and solve puzzles. With Zelda having a constant presence in the game, fans can expect a closer look at the character than ever before.

"More than two decades into its rich history, The Legend of Zelda has introduced another historic first for players as Link and Zelda unite to save Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Combining these unprecedented new story and game-play elements with the series' innovative touch-screen interface on Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi, the game is sure to surprise and delight new and longtime fans."

Leave it to Princess Zelda to figure out a way to bug Link constantly while being kidnapped for the umpteenth time. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks pulls into retail stores on December 7th.

Sega didn't exactly cover their tracks well, what with the trademark application and the words "Super Monkey Ball" listed in the code for the mysterious countdown clock website. Soon after we posted news of the countdown clock the tags seemed to change to other random Sega properties, but the damage was done, and here we are. Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll is a Wii Balance Board-enabled version of Super Monkey Ball, due out in early 2010.

All relentlessly teasing Sega aside, I do love me some Super Monkey Ball. Could this be the title that finally sees me ponying up the cash for a Balance Board?

With Activision currently focusing on the next Call of Duty: Modern Warfare game from developer Infinity Ward, we aren't expecting any sort of official announcement on the next Treyarch version of the game any time soon. Still, it's pretty much a no-brainer, especially considering the success Call of Duty: World at War and its downloadable content have seen. A LinkedIn profile for Treyarch Senior Animator David Kim indicates that Call of Duty 7 is indeed in the works. He lists the game twice in his profile, once under his summary and again under experience.

Again, not really a surprise. We've reached out to Activision for confirmation of the listing, but aren't expecting much more than a no comment.

David Kim's LinkedIn Profile [LinkedIn via Shacknews]

Nintendo's weekly announcement of new content for WiiWare and the Virtual console today came complete with news of a "fun surprise" that they weren't ready to reveal yet. Great! To make matters worse, they then go on to tease us for an entire paragraph.

We can't tell you the secret just yet but maybe we'll offer you some hidden clues. From AZ to NC, if you're a fan, your applause could rattle your walls, windows, door. You might enjoy this news whether you live in a brick house or Vanderbilt dorm. Even people living along Route 286 in rural Pennsylvania ought to be excited. It'll feel like a bunch of birthday greetings and, really, who could ask for more? But that's about all we can say for now, so be sure to check future Wii-kly Updates.

So what the hell does that mean? Could the clue lie in the abbreviations? Something about fans? Why is door a singular while windows and walls aren't? And what's this about Route 286? Looking it up on the internet I discovered that Route 296 encompasses Golden Mile Highway, Saltsburg Road, Washington Street, Salt Street, Main Street, Oakland Avenue, Philadelphia Street, and Franklin Street. Does this mean anything, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

If you find the whole thing too frustrating, at least there's two shooters available this week to help let off some steam. Check out the official descriptions for Life Force and Evasive Space below, while I slowly go insane.

Evasive Space™ (Yukes Company of America, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Launch a one-of-a-kind mission to rescue the stars. The universe is going dark, and it's up to you, Konki the Stellar Guardian, to set things right. Dr. Dark Matter and his roving band of space thieves have stolen many of the Constellation Stones that make up the heavens. It's time to suit up, power up, recover the Stones and once again bring light to the night sky. Using the Wii Remote™ controller's unique pointer capabilities, simply point and thrust Konki through 20 dangerous time- and collection-based missions in the harshest of environments. Navigate through narrow, mazelike astral caves riddled with space worms, steam pipes and mining drills. Explore vast space stations while avoiding turret fire, mines and huge crushing gears. Weave through cluttered asteroid fields and gaseous planetary rings. Evade the hazards, pick up precious items and ship upgrades, and save the Constellation Stones before the night sky is lost forever.

Life Force (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): This classic shooter, originally ported to the NES in August 1988, is a spin-off of the seminal Gradius series. Pilot the Vic Viper through six stages of intense action, alternating between horizontally and vertically scrolling environments, and take on wave after wave of enemies. Destroy particular enemies throughout the game (which takes place within the body of an enormous alien) to release power-up capsules and equip your ship with your choice of more powerful weapons, extra speed and shields. Utilize the power-ups carefully, though, as a fearsome guardian lurks at the end of each stage and won't be easily defeated. You can go it alone or bring along a friend to take on the challenge simultaneously. Do you have what it takes to save your planet?

Codemasters Online Partners with NetDevil to Bring New MMO for 2008!

Codemasters Online set to release NetDevil's all-new space based MMORPG Jumpgate Evolution for North America / Europe.

29th January (2pm GMT) - Codemasters Online have today unveiled their next generation MMORPG set for release in 2008, Jumpgate. Developed by the US-based experienced MMOG developer NetDevil, Jumpgate is a space-based MMO incorporating all-new action style gameplay like never seen before in any previous online game.

'We are very pleased to be working with NetDevil to release this exciting project across North America & Europe. Jumpgate brings something new and fresh to the online persistent space," commented David Solari, Vice President, Codemasters Online. "The all-action approach and thrilling, twitch-based space combat really sets it apart from other MMOs in the market and we are very much looking forward to releasing this space epic in late 2008."

Jumpgate is the definitive space combat MMO allowing players to choose from one of three playable nations and engage in an intense action-packed universe. Embarking on an immersive and accessible space adventure players can trade valuable commodities, take part in dangerous outer-space raids, meet and play with friends and live out the dream to become an elite hero or infamous space pirate. The game features both a rich and varied universe to explore and has been designed for experienced and novice MMO players alike.

"We're really excited about this relationship. Codemasters has already established themselves as a premium game developer and publisher; as well as one of the most successful MMO operators in the business. Very few companies have those kinds of credentials." commented Scott Brown, President of NetDevil. "This combination of experience and dedication is a perfect fit for NetDevil and we are thrilled to be working with such a great partner."

Codemasters Online have confirmed that they will be the exclusive publisher / operator of this next generation MMO across Europe and will be working along with NetDevil to bring the game to the North American market.

For more information on Jumpgate visit www.jumpgateevolution.com

Now, attendees of the upcoming GDC Serious Games Summit will have the chance to learn just how he does it. In the presentation "Being Brian Crecente: Using an Off-The-Shelf Role Playing Game to Teach Journalism," by University of Minnesota's Nora Paul, you too can learn the secrets of Brian's bird shirt, his blinding smile and most importantly, his hidden obsession with writing talent Mark Wilson.

So what's weird about this presentation? Brian didn't even know it was happening. As in, Brian was checking out the GDC presentation website and spotted it. And then he ran to tell us all but was stopped short, his head too big to fit through the door of his office.

Serious Games Summit [gdc]

The third person shooting element was very much influenced by Gears of War.

At first blush, the game looks like a nod to Micro Machines, Toy Commander and Twisted Metal: Small Brawl. We'll be in touch with SCEA reps to find out exactly what this mystery release is and when we'll get to play it.

I'm starting to think that Nintendo isn't going to send Wiis to any stores for sale. Instead they're going to follow their marketing strategy and let people buy empty boxes and then send them a little piece of the console every week for three years.

In the latest bit of death by PR, GamePro has confirmed that Nintendo isn't finished telling us about the Wii. No, they still have anywhere from a "big Wii revelation" to a "couple of other surprises" to spring on us before the console is in our hot little hands.

The question is when, exactly, will they be doing the springing? I mean, in less than three weeks I can just walk into a store and figure out the surprises all on my own.

More importantly what will the surprises to revelation be? My money is on the Wii in fact being one of the horsemen of the apocalypse, maybe the third. That when millions of gamers the world over pry open the white lid of their Wii boxes, they will spark Armageddon and the end of days. Just in case, I plan to open my Wii box with a frying pan in hand. Smack that little bastard on the head if it tries anything funny. Brian Crecente

Could Nintendo be sniggering behind their hands, waiting to spring another shock on its poor, unsuspecting audience? Joystiq reports that Go Nintendo says that French gaming blog ActuJV has a man on the inside. Oh how I love these he-said, she-said daisychains, and how come the French get all this stuff first?

According to ActuJV's source, this is what has been goin' down:

Nintendo has been playing us the fool all along. They have been showing us trailers for games that have deliberately downgraded graphics compared to what the Wii can actually do. This is to create an element of surprise for the press during Nintendo's next media event.

The next media event is on September 15th in NYC, and you can be sure the French will be in attendance. Eliza Gauger

more here [Joystiq]