Mr. Universal's Blog

As June 24th inches closer and closer on the calender, millions of Transformer fans are counting the days to what many felt they'd never see - a hugely expensive, insanely anticipated SEQUEL to one of 2007's biggest hits, Transformers.  I only say they never expected such a thing as the live-action film not only helped energize the franchise, but its taken Optimus Prime and Company to unheard of heights of popularity in the public consciousness.  The sequel, Revenge of the Fallen, in its latest trailer looks to be exactly what many felt it would be; bigger, louder, and considerably more robot-filled times-two.

More of the Transformers themselves, more explosions, more Megan Fox (outdoing her first Bumble Bee-hind outing), and even more explosions.  Will it add up to the follow-up we're all expecting?  Transform and roll out for yourselves by checking out the noisiest trailer you've ever seen right HERE!

Now this is how you do third-party on the Wii.  With Atari's upcoming Ghostbusters leading the charge, it seems as though third-party developers are finally beginning to grasp that while Nintendo's waggle-console can't quite handle the HD-graphics they try to shrinky-dink down to size, it can sport highly detailed and creatively made polygons like nobody's business.  Hence the new (and improved) look for Madden NFL 10 for Wii, which gets the slightly cartoonish look that suits the console's graphic abilities so well.

But that's not all!  EA Sports is quick to brag the game up, which looks to continue the moderate sales success of last year's title with improvements and gameplay enhancements that go above simply retouching and remodeling the game's look:

"This year, Madden NFL 10 arrives on the WiiTM with breath-taking visuals that will captivate the entire family. Completely redesigned and built from the ground up, Madden NFL 10 introduces a unique art style that will define the look of sports games on the Wii. Bright new stadiums showcase details of NFL fields, plus all-new player models embody characteristics of your favorite athletes. Madden NFL 10 epitomizes what fun looks like on the Wii, delivering the most social and dynamic experience from the franchise to date. Get together with friends and crown a "King of the Couch" during your pre-game tailgate party or during halftime. Quick, exciting game modes ensure that anytime is the right time for Madden NFL 10 on the Wii."

We'll have to wait to see if the final product can live up the stylish new polygonal threads, but kudos is due to EA for taking the road less traveled and not pushing the Wii to do what it simply can't, and rather focus on what it can.  There's a lesson to be learned here, and the consequences could help the next few years of sitting in front of our waggle-machines be much more enjoyable.

So does that get your pigskin-tossin' hands sweaty with excitement? If so, rush on over to the official Madden NLF 10 Wii website for yourselves for even more goodness, including a Peter Moore-enhanced debut gameplay trailer!  Check out Madden for the Wii right HERE!

Gaming developers are well-known for their bouts with hyperbole, especially those with something to prove.  When it comes to delivering a truly compelling visual experience on Nintendo's Wii console, achieving greatness can be a badge of honor.  With the upcoming rail-shooting sequel Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, it looks like Capcom is raising the bar to near-ridiculous levels of expectations by claiming they've squeezed "near Xbox360 level of graphics" from the waggle machine.

So says Japanese developer Cavia's Kentaro Noguchi:

"By adding in technology like HDR, global illumination, shadow/lighting and some filters, we feel that we were able to achieve some graphics that are the best you will see on the Wii."

Kotaku has the full interview with Capcom about the upcoming rail-shooter, and includes some new revelations and gameplay tidbits that should make fans of the horror franchise quite happy.  Whether Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles becomes the "best looking Wii game" or not  is less important than if they can deliver a compelling experience.  The Wii has become THE place for quality rail-shooters, and there's certainly no shortage of zombie-themed games on the market.

The gaming world's obsession with chainsaws continues unabated in the latest trailer for Capcom's upcoming Dead Rising 2, which just so happens to have a snazzy new trailer to help rile up the fans and get them excited to smash, smack, and completely tear up masses of zombies (i.e. real zombies) in Fortune City.  Watch new protagonist go wild as he slogs his way through the dead meat and kicks back a few well-earned drinks in the new game's Vegas-style locale.

So will Chuck Greene do one better than last game's unfortunate photographer Frank?  With over 7,000 onscreen zombies (so we're told) and plenty of utensils to creatively take them all out, we could be looking at a winner here.  The Dead Rising franchise has always been one searching for its own identity, and it looks like Capcom has finally embraced the funny.

Dead Rising 2 is due later this year for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC platforms. 

Well, chalk this one up to stating the obvious, but after last week's 'leaked' hidden website debacle, Capcom has finally let the cat out of the bag and made the re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 completely official. But apart from stating the obvious, there are still a few surprises for longtime fans. The game will be HD, support widescreen, custom soundtracks, is based on the original Dreamcast game code, support online, and perhaps most shockingly, offer a little something extra for Sony fans that PlayStation 3 owners aren't used to getting...

Unlike last year's hit Super Street Fighter II: HD Remix, this one won't be run through the redraw process. Rather, the HD itself will come via an optional upscaling filter, via "Crisp" and "Smooth" options to beef up the original sprites for HD displays. "Classic" will also be available for purists (raises hand), so you can now have your hand-drawn characters and 3D-rendered backgrounds however you wish...and timely! Widescreen will also be available, however it seems to be a strange mix of scaled-out 4:3 display, rather than SSF2:HDR's zoomed version. Again, traditionalists will have the standard black-bar view as well.

The most controversial change for most fans will probably be the music - singularly the most contested and loved/hated feature of the original game. Some people love it, while others just loved to hate it. It sounds like Capcom listed (double-pun fun) and has given players the option to tweak the original jazzy score by adding independent volume controls and (finally) custom soundtracks. Does this mean that special, downloadable tracks will be available soon ala SSF2HDR? Let's hope so, as the community for remixes is staggeringly big, and potentially limitless.

In a bold move, the PlayStation 3 will receive a FREE, exclusive demo of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on April 30th...this week! PlayStation.blog has confirmed the PSN demo is a PlayStation 3 exclusive, and have the following features:

* Two-player local matches
* Seven selectable environments
* Six available characters - Ryu, Chun-Li, Strider, Spider-Man, Iron Man and Wolverine

But fear not Xbox 360 fans, as the full game will hit both Xbox Live and PSN this summer for 1200 Xbox Points, or $15 for PlayStaiton 3. We'll bring you more word on Marvel vs. Capcom 2 as it becomes available, and don't forget to head over the official Capcom-Unity blog for even more pictures and incredible info!  Check out the official trailer just below, cheesy as always and made supreme by including Stan Bush's AMAZING 'The Touch'!

One of the worst-kept secrets of any 2009-bound release, the multiplayer action in Naughty Dog's upcoming Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was heavily demonstrated and experienced over the weekend by the most fabulous of gaming writers, but for those of us unable to attend, it looks as if Sony was kind enough to post some juicy gameplay footage online.

Early word has the new modes ranging from "impressive" to "great", which bodes well for Nathan Drake's next adventure. So look for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves to hit the PlayStation 3 just in time for the important (and lucrative) holiday season.

Sometimes the announcement for a new product - any product - speaks for itself. Other times it needs context. With the recent listing for developer ZootFly's latest creation, you'll have to decide for youselves which school it falls under.  Based on Mohawk Media's graphic novels, none other than "I pity the foo!" Mr. T will be starring in and smashing Nazis in his very own videogame.

ZootFly says it better than anyone else could:

"The first game will see Mr. T take on Nazis and their gigantic machines in the varied universe of South American rain forests, lost ancient cities, industrial complexes and contemporary military installations."

But just when you thought the concept couldn't be any stranger, it does. Not only will the game star the gold-chain sporting actino hero, but will also feature none other than supreme game designer Will Wright (!) as an American geneticist "who was kidnapped and coerced to work on a diabolic plan." Apparently Wright and T will join forces to annhilate the Nazis and their hardware.  OK then.

I'm not one to judge, as the best videogames are often the more ridiculous.  It certainly can't be any worse than casting a famous rapper and having him defend his Crystal Skulls, can it?  For more information on this one, head on over to ZootFly.com for updates and more.  The game is slated for the Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and Wii platforms.

Controversy in the videogame world is a strange beast.  While its doubtful that everyone will ever agree on , Konami's planned Iraqi War game Six Days in Fallujah seems to have hit too close to home.  Citing massive complaints from concerned consumers, the Japanese company has decided not to release the game.  A statement from Konami explains the cancellation:

"After seeing the reaction to the videogame in the United States and hearing opinions sent through phone calls and e-mail, we decided several days ago not to sell it,"

The Fallujah battle is often considered a key moment in the Iraqi War, as the November 2006 was the most sustained and aggressive action taken by US forces against the insurgent-held city since 2003.

It had been Konami's intent to "convey the reality of the battles to players so that they could feel what it was like to be there," but since first unveiling the game publicly has done little other than defend what they feel were the project's realistic and historical significance. Much has been made of the involvement of actual soldiers who participated in the battle, althoughby Konami's own addmission the extent of this involvement and how it affected the final product were never clear.

Early screenshots and hands-on descriptions seemed to convey a confused direction, as reports described the game more in line with standard military-themed shooters at best, and at its worst, exploitive. Whether these complaints demonstrate bad timing on behalf of Konami's ambitions to enter the military-themed genre.  A scathing editorial by videogame blog Shacknews seemed to represent the general sentiment of a nation still grappling with the ongoing conflict, and to question the timing of such a release.

Whether this is the last we'll be seeing of Six Days in Fallujah is a mystery, as its unclear at this time whether Konami retains full publishing rights of the US-developed (Atomic Games) game.

Thanks to Asahi.com

2008 was a banner year for digitally-distributed gaming, and for many people Jonathan Blow's BRAID was a force of nature.  Beautiful, lush visuals complimented its organic and challenging time-shifting gameplay, but so did the game's gorgeous soundtrack.  With the game finally hitting other platforms and branching out, its only fitting the soundtrack hit other mediums as well.

Available for purchase at MagnaTune, the stunning orchestral bliss by Sieber, Kammen and Fulton and Schatz is a treat for the ears.  Even better, the whole thing is available for free online (see streaming below), so you can definitely try before you buy.  All ten tracks are definitely worth a listen, and by all means pick up a digital copy from this amazing digitally-distributed masterpiece while you can.

Talk about having the right timing, it looks like Nintendo is about to expand their best-selling Nintendo DS Lite (not DSi) into many more hands, specifically mothers hands for Mother's Day!  Although official confirmation has yet to come, look for the company to announce the latest specialty color/bundle in the form of the lucious Lime-Green/Personal Trainer Cooking Bundle next week.  Estimates put this bundle somewhere in the area of $149, which would be in line with previous configurations and pricing options.

What a great package this will be, too, as the Personal Trainer Cooking software is the perfect nexus between many a amateur cook and amateur gamer.  Will the lime-green bundle have the same impact as its popular Brain Age bundle has?  The creamy posh carrybag certainly won't hurt its chances.  Time will tell, but for some reason I feel like eating some pears...

Check out how one amateur chef greased her gamer-hand's with Personal Trainer Cooking with our special feature The Digital Kitchen right HERE!

Much discussed and now official, Nintendo and super advertising agency Dentsu have announced the long-awaited debut of video-on-demand services for this generation's most popular console will flip the switch and begin airing on May 1st...in Japan.  Introducing Wii no Ma (Wii Room).

While rival consoles Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have offered various suites of downloading and video rentals for some time, the Dentsu partnership will bring a different type of service to Nintendo's waggle machine, and offering original animated and similarly-themed "family friendly" programming to viewers, so you probably shouldn't start looking for feature-length films like Spiderman or Star Wars just yet. The actual debut programs have yet to be announced.

The promotional video for Wii no Ma features what looks to be a hybrid of both PlayStation Home and Second Life (although don't look for similar interactivity), with up to 8 Mii characters occupying the same virtual space at the same time. It seems certain objects in this "living room" will draw information from the Wii and Internet as well, including photos and weather information for your viewing pleasure.

Wii no Ma will offer different levels of video-on-demand, including free and pay-to-watch programming. The service seems uniquely tailored to the Japanese market, as there will be promotional partnering with advertisers to explore and even order up sampling of their various wares (a common practice in the country), and offer viewers a chance to give feedback on what they have watched. This seems to be an extension of the existing Nintendo Channel, which offers users the opportunity to grade (and order) videogames that interest them.

But its with the curiously 'complete' Wii no Ma experience that may raise some eyebrows, as the service will ask users to volunteer personal information about themselves, including the year they were born and blood type, in addition to grading the programs they've watched. Presumably, this information will be used to gauge the effectiveness of the programs themselves and thus, bring higher-quality shows to a service that as of yet is completely unique. Or more likely, it will find its way into the lucrative marketing fold operated by the likes of (surprise) Dentsu.

Most interesting (considering its popularity) is probably the downloadable app for the DSi console, playfully called Dokodemo Wii no Ma (Anywhere Wii Room), which allows users of the Wii Channel to download videos directly from the service (streaming?), as well as coupons for promotional items (see above) such as restaurant coupons. The demonstration even shows the DSi "scanning" a coupon directly from the screen...the future is here! 

Will Wii no Ma be a successful foray into the world of streaming video-on-demand for Nintendo? As long as the quality of the original programming is up to snuff, it certainly couldn't hurt, although not offering existing content does rob such a service of much of its built-in appeal. Time (and quality) will tell as the service launches in Japanese markets May 1st.

Visit the official Wii no Ma website by clicking right HERE!

If you're one of the many hardcore Solid Snake fans who snatched up his iPhone/iPod Touch debut with last month's Metal Gear Solid Touch (full Impression), then chances are the experience left you feeling a bit...incomplete.  While Hideo Kojima and Crew promised the portable espionage shooter would contain the complete 'MGS4' experience (in story form, at least), those brave enough to battle their way through to the game's conclusion may have noticed a few things missing. Turns out they were right, and now Konami is offering a free update to help make the whole experience "Complete".

Included in the update are 8 new stages, in addition to the original 12 from the original release. Also added are 30 new wallpapers (accessible via using saved Drebin Points collected during gameplay), including a mix of 3D CG and illustrated designs.  Also, for the truly brave, updates Titles based on game performance help improve your ranking and bragging rights.

Also included is updated language support for French, German, Italian, and Spanish to help make this fight truly international.

Metal Gear Solid Touch Complete clocks in at a hefty 137 MB (10 MB for the update), so better make sure you've got the space if you want Snake to 'complete' his touching final mission!  Free updates are always nice, especially when they add so much extra value to a product you've already purchased.

There's no denying the popularity of Apple's growing iPhone/iPod Touch platform, especially for those helping drive download sales and titles to record-breaking numbers. Having opened its digital doors in July of 2008, the App Store is about to celebrate its one billionth downloaded App soon, and they're giving away the good stuff.

For those of you keeping track, that's a whopping 3X faster than it took the company to distribute one billion songs through iTunes. Of course, there is the distinction between "downloaded" and "sold", but one billion is still an impressive number (unless you're a member of Congress).

Helping fuel this downloading fury of applications are games, of which Apple recently revealed make up a staggering 70% of all paid application sales. As the inevitable countdown towards the magic BILLION takes place, Apple has unveiled their own celebration, and is literally giving away the good stuff. From the official site:

As of today, nearly one billion apps have been downloaded around the globe. So we just want to say thanks - a billion. Download an app and you'll automatically get the chance to win a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card, an iPod touch, a Time Capsule, and a MacBook Pro. Just go to the iTunes Store, browse the App Store, and download your best app yet.

That's literally bushells of goodness for those seeking Apple products, and considering its free to enter (just download an App), those of you with Apple iPhone/iPod Touch platforms have probably already entered in the content without realizing it.  For everyone else, time to boot up iTunes and download a few prizes into your life.

Celebrate with Apple by biting into the official contest website right HERE!

Will it or won't it? That seems to be the growing question regarding the availability of the popular internet communications software Skype onto the recently released Nintendo DSi hardware upgrade.  Nintendo has issued a public statement to CVG that seems to confirm it may be awhile before DSi fans are able to communicate with each other directly:

"We have no plans to release a Skype application for Nintendo DS or DSi."

This seems to be in line with the company's policy of restrictive communications for their various devices, as the Skype network would be out of their direct control and subsequently open their enormous userbase to the unpredictable nature of the raw internet.  Despite its ubiquity, the service has yet to find its footing in an ever-changing world of video conferencing and communications. Online auction house Ebay purchased the software in 2005, but may be looking to sell it back to its original owners in the future.  Currently, the service has over 405 million registered users across multiple platforms.

While Sony launched a PSP-version of the software last year, users without the most recent hardware revision (3000) were forced to purchase external microphones if they wanted to take advantage of Skype's VOIP technology.

Years back a DS-enabled VOIP service was seen demonstrated at several trade-shows, but has proven to be nothing more than a technology demonstration. But while earlier versions of the popular portable required packaged software and bundles to add features, the DSi's native DSi Ware online store is fully capable of both gaming and application use.

The DSi, with its standard microphone and digital cameras, would not have similar issues and seems ideally suited for the service. Nintendo has been vocal in encouraging developers to create applications for the DSi Ware Shop, so while an offical Nintendo version of Skype may not be in the wings, its certainly a very real possibility.

The Nintendo Wii has been hit by a surprisingly strong torrent of bad press recently, particularly after NPD's most recent report suggested that demand for the wonder console may actually be slowing. Despite having been released during the lucrative holiday season in 2006, But while the console has been difficult to find in most retailers, apparently a good portion of Japanese fans are now waving and waggling their Wiimotes and buying software - and lots of it.

Japanese super-magazine Famitsu has released data that suggets the Wii has topped the 8 million mark in its home country, and to help drive the point home that Nintendo's home console leads its peers (the portable market is a completely different beast), they've also released life-to-date shipments of the most popular Wii titles. Only the superlative casual fighter Smash Bros. Brawl is minus the "Wii" moniker, with first-party titles bearing the logo taking the top four spots.

The Wii's best-selling software since November 2006:

1. Wii Sports - 3,481,469
2. Wii Fit - 3,481,469
3. Wii Play - 2672,811
4. Mario Kart Wii - 2,218,756
5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - 1,789,924

Arigato's to Famitsu!

Three things most of us will readily admit to loving: LittleBigPlanet, Stephen Fry, and Stephen Fry involved in even more LittleBigPlanet.  For those of you lucky enough to be associated with the masterful British comic's work, this can only be good news as the technologically-superior Fry has confirmed his vocal work will be helping make the upcoming LittleBigPlanet PSP version even better.  From his official Twitter site:

"I've come to the end of a lush voice-athon and yes, am empowered to confess that it was for a new PSP version of Little Big Planet."

This is great, if not unexpected news for fans of the growing LBP franchise and PSP owners in general.  Not much else is known, but head on over to Fry's official Twitter site to see just how useful (and time-wasting) the service can be.  Recent post as of this writing: ""Shall now cook something so ineffably scrumptious that angels will weep. Or possibly I'll have baked beans. Tough call." - Genius!

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is a lot of things.  Incredibly complex, maddeningly addictive, crazy/cool, and home to what's perhaps the most grating (yet strangely alluring) theme song of all-time.  Fans and foes know the tune simply as "Take You For a Ride," and it seems that little ditty has become the theme to what might be the official announcement for the upcoming re-release of the extremely hard-to-find fighter.

With used copies going for upwards of $80 (and that's just the original Xbox version), a recently unearthed website under the URL www.tu4ar.com hints at bigger, better things, and features a giant number '2' in the background while a clock ticks down to its unknown conclusion.  While many of us would hope Capcom finally answers the cries of gamers everywhere and decides to release a version for the current-generation of consoles, this could easily be a misleading distraction.  Although in its favor are recent MvC2 developments, including leaked ESRB ratings, as well as Xbox Live Achievements, which could signal yet another release and/or HD Remix is on the way.

With fighting games back in style (thanks partly to Capcom's own stellar Street Fighter IV) and the company on a roll, let's hope this fan-service continues down its fan-pleasing path.  So is it real, or just a really good hoax?  Find out for yourselves when the ticker hits zero, so why not take your browsers for a ride by pointing them right HERE!

Word is starting to trickle online that Nintendo's recently announced Wii MotionPlus adapter that's set to hit North American retailers this June will have support to justify its existence, and it looks like EA plans to take things up a notch.  Apart from Sega, EA has been the most vocal advocate of the upgrade, and will release two select titles to take advantage of the better motion-tracking capabilities it has to offer.  But while most will probably snatch one up with Nintendo's highly-anticipated Wii Sports: Resort (or separately), it looks like EA is slipping one inside copies of their own Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 game as well.

Kotaku is reporting that UK gamers will also receive packaged versions of Grand Slam Tennis, each retailing without the Wii MotionPlus adapter for £29.99, with the price for the bundle jumping to £49.99.  This seems in line with the standard pricing of the adapter by itself, although look for the North American pricing to follow suit.  Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 is due in stores June 16th.

Go, go, Kotaku!

After successfully relaunching the Fallout brand-name (particularly to the console generation), it seems that Bethesda isn't going to wait another ten years to release the next chapter in the apocalyptic survival saga at a trade event in London.  The follow-up to the smash-hit Fallout 3 is already in development.

Fallout: New Vegas will be developed by Obsidian, who are best known as the talent behind Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II and Alpha Protocol. Early word says the next game won't be a direct sequel to the best-selling Fallout 3, so where the story arch takes the franchise is anyone's guess. Whether the name 'Vegas' points to Las Vegas (as the franchise has previously given post-nuclear names to their cities) remains to be seen, but would seem the most likely assumption.  The title is expected for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC platforms.

Whether the development of Fallout: New Vegas will affect future releases of Fallout 3 DLC remains to be seen, but after a shakey start for the well-received 'The Pitt' addition, the ravaged and scarred terrain of war-torn future Earth is certainly looking (ironically) bright.

Thanks to Edge-Online for the edge!

If you're a PlayStation owner this generation, then you're probably all too familiar with the rapid succession of firmware updates that Sony has been throwing onto the PlayStation 3 and PSP consoles as of late, most of which bring welcome featuers and much-needed updates.  While not all changes are welcome (see hackers and/or homebrew community), but anything that help developers and fans take full advantage of the high-powered portable are fine with me.

Firmware Update 5.50 is set to launch onto Sony's PSP tomorrow, and with it come a slate of new additions and features designed to make the download 'n play process that much easier and more streamlined. Memory Stick improvements, internet security, and improved parental controls are all part of the package.  Another update will give users access to the PSN's Information crawl, which should be more than familiar to PlayStation 3 users.

Keep reading for all the juciest of details!

For all the gripes some may have with their curiously flawed Versus DLC for Resident Evil 5, Capcom can usually be counted on to deliver the goods and real value when it comes to Street Fighter.  Long-promised, the company is finally ready to deliver the update to the best-selling Street Fighter IV online modes, which unlike a certain case of survival horror, will be free-of-charge and packed with World Warrior goodnes.

The Championship Mode hits both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on April 24th, and will be free to download.  Free and packed with content?  What an interesting concept, and thank you Capcom!  Full details and blurb just below:

Championship Mode offers you the chance to compete in 5 different grades of tournaments, creating the right challenge for players of every skill level. You' ll score Grade Points (GP) for tournament wins, and as your GP total grows, you' ll become eligible to enter into more exclusive tournaments. Winning tournaments will also net you Championship Points (CP). CP are like " prize money" up for grabs in the tournament. The higher the GP skill of the players in a particular tournament, the bigger the CP prize!

Replay Mode allows you to select and watch the best Championship Mode tournament matches.

* On the PlayStation Network, you can rate matches while you watch according to characteristics such as " awesome" or " funny." Replays are then ranked based on these vote ratings.

* On Xbox Live, instead of rating the matches, you can choose to download and save your favorite replays to study the players' techniques. Y ou' ll also be able to turn on the input commands from both players to be able to review their button and joystick motions in precise detail.

One of the surest signs of a flagging economy is the growth of what many refer to as "secondary markets". While this strange and sometimes inconsistent world of fea-markets, yard sales, and (increasingly) Craigslist advertisements does well for themselves in normal times, look for retail expansion into the mainstream when times call for a little belt-tightening and penny-pinching.

While retail giant GameStop has found massive success in these secondary markets, more recent additions have included Amazon.com, Toys 'Us, as well as electronics retailer Radio Shack. Its the latter which concerns us today, as the chain - whose retail divison of videogame products has always been tepid - expands their experimental online electronics trade-in program to stores across the country.

Products eligible for trade-in (see below) used videogames and accessories, provided they're able to boot-up and are functional. In-store credit will help old become new, so it might be time to dust off a few old friends and aqauint yourselves with some new ones.

This is great news for those without the aforementioned secondard markets in their community to take advantage of, and great for RadioShack itself. In these uncertain financial times, its encouraging to see traditional outlets evolve and change their business practices to keep up with the realities of those they affect most - the consumers.

Full press-release below:

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Electronics retailer RadioShack Corp. said Wednesday it is expanding its online electronics trade-in program to 4,400 company-owned stores across the country.

Under the program, customers can apply the value of old products to new purchases.

Eligible electronic devices must be able to power on and include MP3 players, wireless phones, gaming systems, digital cameras and others, the company said.

A valid ID is necessary for a gift card exchange.

With the world of videogame analysis positively cluttered with the unsubstantiated dribble of those unqualified charlatans - perhaps hoping to make a name for themselves or their firms - one name towers above them all. That would be Dan DeMatteo, CEO of the world's biggest videogame retail outlet GameStop, a position that makes him uniquely qualified to comment directly on speculation and rumor.

A recent interview with CNBC has been gaining traction recently, not so much for what DeMatteo says, but what he doesn't.  Gathering the most attention is DeMatteo's comment towards industry-leader Nintendo, who is widely expected to unveil a major title for the Wii console at this summer's E3 trade-show.

"We think there will be a Nintendo key property coming out by the end of the year," he says. "They haven't given us any insight, but they have told us to reserve [shelf] space."

Rumor has been circulating that Nintendo may announce a new chapter in their fabled Legend of Zelda franchise, one independent of their recently-announced DS exclusive "Spirit Tracks."

In a surprisingly candid moment, the CEO is less enamored with Sony's pricing strategy, not only suggesting the company will reduce the price of their PlayStation 3 console, but whether a cut will be viable to consumers. "I don't know that $50 gets you that much," DeMatteo commented on the speculation that a price cut would fall between $50 - $100.

Sure, we've all been convinced (i.e. harassed) by the various gaming stores to plunk down a few dollars to reserve the latest game before its release date. From unlockable weapons to increased HP points, these outlets have been giving away the digital goods in efforts to entice players to hop onboard the latest game prior to its release.

But what if the situation were reversed? Instead of incidential give-a-ways and "collector editions", what if retail stores gave us the very thing we all could use - store credit? It looks like retail giant Target is doing that very thing, as the chain is now offering special $5 Target Gift Cards to those customers who put down a $1 reseveration on select games and complete their purchase.

The program starts April 19th. Explaining the new practice is Mark Schindele, senior vice president of Target:

"We've created a reservation guarantee that ensures guests will get their hands on popular games the day they are released, and a $5 GiftCard upon purchase adds even more value...We are constantly striving to make sure our guests find everything they need to work, live and play all in one convenient and simplified shopping experience."

It seems the kick-off program is very wII-centric, with launch titles including Punch-Out!!, EA Sports Active, Ghostbusters, Undisputed, and Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings. No word yet if the program will expand beyond specified titles, but this is definitely movement in the right direction and in this economy, $5 of Target gift cards is still $5 worth having.

The recent history of the videogame market has been surprisingly silent about one of its earliest - and more vocal - supporters. Trip Hawkins, founder of Electronic Arts, father of the 3DO, AIAS Hall of Fame member, and one of (then) Apple Computer's most successful early marketers is still in the game.  His latest endeavor, the deliciously named Digital Chocolate, is fast becoming a force in the realm of mobile platform publishing, and no other platform has impressed the former Apple-employee than that of his former employer's omnipresent set of devices - the iPhone/iPod Touch.

Enamored?  Perhaps absolutely smitten is a better way of putting it as Hawkins is quick to point out that mobile developers have been wise to take up Apple's game-changing platform on the ground-level.  As he recently told VentureBeat in a surprising interview:

"It's by far our most effective platform. We make as much money with these games on one device as we do putting a game on 100 different cell phone platforms. Between the iPod Touch and the iPhone, I think the platform is freaking out Sony and Nintendo. Apple has sold 30 million units so far and it has created tremendous awareness. It has taken ground all over the world."

Since launching its 3G hardware revision and App Store in July of last year, Apple has taken the digital software download world by store, and will soon announce the one billionth downloaded App soon. The company has acknowleded gaming as the most powerful driving force for this rapid adoption, with Activision's Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D Racing the best-selling paid download for the growing service.

Thanks to VentureBeat for keeping the beat!

Since launching in support of its 3G iPhone and second-generation iPod Touch last July, Apple's App Store has been met with unprecedented support and media fanfare, as the company continues its slow transformation from fruity computer company to full-fledged software provider. To help celebrate the impending one-billionth App downloaded, some impressive numbers have been making the rounds and it looks as though gaming is helping drive their converstion.

Apple is reporting that downloaded games now represent 30% of all free Apps and a whopping 70% of all paid Apps through the store since its launch last July.  Pangea's Enigmo, Bejewled 2, Moto Chaser, Flick Fishing, and of course, Tetris.

Topping the list of paid applications is Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D, published by Activision and one of the App store's first titles. With its $5.99 (US) pricetag, this helps make Crash's Apple debut one of the costliest downloads for the platform, which alongside fellow best-seller Super Monkey Ball , seems to justify the higher price-tag.

The most downloaded free App is Tapulous's Tap Revenge, another debut release and the fourth most-popular free download on the platform, after Facebook, Google Earth, and Pandora Radio applications.  Pac-Man Lite, FlipSide5's Touch Hockey: FS5, Codify AB's Labyrinth Lite Edition, and SGN iBowl were other popular choices as well.

Apple seems to have adopted the curious system of not revealing actual sales figures of their downloaded Apps, leaving many to speculate and perhaps fill in the gaps through more unconvential means.  But as the highly-anticipated 1,000,000,000 App is on its way, that's one number you can be sure they'll imprint upon the public when it happens.

Thanks to GameIndustry.biz for the biz-ness!

Despite the many successes Microsoft has had with their second-generation Xbox game console, the company seems destined to have the Xbox 360's history forever linked to the dreaded "RROD"(Red Ring of Death) cultural phenomenon.  But as some Xbox 360 owners have discovered, just because you're console isn't turning crimson red doesn't mean you haven't been.

Known to many as "Error E74", the console's second-most popular cause of death has been frustrating gamers across the globe since it was first acknowledged as a system killer.  Microsoft is now including "Error E74" into their much-touted warranty extension plan, which was announced to much fanfare in July 2007 after months of denial concerning the now-infamous "RROD" (Red Ring of Death) complaints...and potential ligigation. The company has detailed how those affected can find relief and have their eligible systems repaired, or in the case of catostrophic destruction, refunds.

Kudos to Microsoft for acting significantly faster to rectify this well-known defect, and for helping make the repair process only slightly-less painful.  As someone who has managed to escape the repair process thus far, I can't speak personally to the waiting times and customer disservice many have detailed, but if that day ever comes it'll be good to know that I'm at least slightly covered.

For more information on how to extend your warranty, or to repair your "Error E47" plagued console head to the official Xbox Support Page by clicking right HERE!

Rumors have been swirling for months regarding Sony's intention to completely drop the UMD format from their PSP console, and while the company is busy shooting down the possibility, it looks as though they're not shooting it down entirely.  The upcoming sequel to one of their most interesting titles is about to go all-digital in its North American debut.  Patapon 2, the rhythm 'n buttom-smashing game with the cuteness (and looks) of LocoRoco and gameplay of PaRappa is set to exclusively hit Sony's PlayStation Network for the low price of $15.  In a twist, players can also pick up a retail box at stores that will contain a redeemable code via the service.

Explaining this retail experiment is Patrick Seybold, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at SCEA:

"We're considering a digital only format for the Patapon 2 release as a one time test case as we continue to explore consumer preferences for digital content...The downloadable game will be available on May 5th at both retail and via the PlayStation Store. We remain focused on providing superior games and entertainment experiences in both the UMD and digital formats and are working closely with our partners to deliver the best PSP line up in our history."

Those familiar with gaming sales figures will have to admit the Patapon franchise has been something of a disappointment for Sony, having sold far below expectations despite critical acclaim, with both the original and sequel (in Japan so far) moving less than what most expected.  The PSP has been a strange platform thus far, with hardware units hovering near 50 million sold, but a relative lack of best-selling software to justify that amount.  Does a download-only release for Pataon 2 signal a change in how the company will move forward with the PSP?  Perhaps, and at the very least will be an experiment worth watching!

One of the more unusual game-to-movie translations on the slate looks to be moving forward as the theatrical release of The Legend of Spyro film gets its first-ever teaser art.  Or does it?  Although the film has been whispered about for some time, attaching big-name stars like Elijah Wood and Gary Oldman (for the games) has done nothing but fuel speculation the film was not only real, but coming.

Over the weekend the lovely piece of artwork (see above) has been making the rounds online, but links to the 'official website' don't exactly fill my heart with confidence, especially given the amount of really good fanart out there.  Its certainly not the most professional looking thing I've ever seen, but than again I have seen worse.  So whether its real or not, bask in a very Lion King-ish looking image and wonder what might be.

Unlike the majority of my Nintendo Wii-owning friends, I wasn't that fond of launch title Excite Truck.  While flailing through ultra-fast levels and crashing all over the place had its moments, the game felt every bit as rushed and incomplete it really was.  But plenty had fun with it, and I must admit the more I see of its strange follow-up, the more interested I am.  Excitebots: Trick Racing looks every bit as wacky and loopy as I've come to expect from Nintendo these days, which might be just the thing to reel disbelievers (such as myself) back in.

Insect-bots and giant clown faces are par for the course, but as long as Nintendo can bring the Triple-AAA online gameplay of Mario Kart (far and away the BEST online work on the Wii console), I'll be giving this one the benefit of the doubt when it's released.  Enjoy the trailer, and better limber up those racing thumbs now!

It wasn't long ago that the first gameplay trailer for Nintendo's upcoming Punch-Out!! hit the internet, and the internet went crazy.  I suspect a similar reaction from the latest trailer, which is largely the same yet now featuring the first multiplayer action in the franchise's history, the introduction of the incredibly fierce looking Giga Mac, and the hypothetical ringing of cash registers as the game is destined to fly off shelves.  Frankly, the only thing missing at this point is Mario the ref, but he's a small sacrifice for a pink sweatsuit and cartoon boxing bliss.

Word on the street that Punch-Out!! is solid gold, so let's hope the multiplayer can live up to 20+ years of pent-up hopes and dreams, otherwise I can see a few well-earned baguette-spewing uppercuts to the jaw.  The game enters the retail ring next month, so watch for it!!

Good news on this Good Friday for those of you having picked up SouthPeak's X-Blades game for either the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 consoles, as you're now eligible for a sweet $5 mail-in rebate!  If this sounds too good to be true, check out the follow blurb to see if you're one of the lucky ones eligible for the rebate:

We've got a special update coming to ya from SouthPeak Games - starting today (Friday April 10th) anyone who purchases a copy of X-Blades on either platform is eligible for a special $5 mail-in rebate. You heard me right - simply purchase X-Blades at an AUTHORIZED RETAILER*, provide a UPC and Receipt and wham bam thank you ma'am you'll get a $5 check in the mail.

Not a bad deal, considering how unexpected it was, and a nice trend towards shaving off precious dollars in this troubled economy.  Even better, it looks like those planning on picking up the upcoming Velvet Assassin or Section 8 titles will also be eligible for a rebate as well. Authorized Retailers Include, but not limited to, Wal*Mart, Best Buy, Gamestop, Target, and Amazon.com.

This is a trend I think we can all approve of, and kudos to SouthPeak for their more-than-generous offer.  Now how's about giving us a rebate (or at least an exchange) on the flaccid box-art we North Americans got?

Assassin's Creed was a big hit for publisher Ubisoft, it sold a ton, and now the highly-anticipated sequel is nearly upon us. To help celebrate (and start the marketing hype early), take a gander at the upcoming sequel's new main protagonist, super stylish and dressed to kill.

Replacing the first game's mysterious hero Altair will be the equally mysterious (if not more so) Ezio. Dressed for success, the young noble will be exploring Renaissance-era Venice and no doubt continue the sneak 'n slaughter approach that fit the first game so well.  The latest issue of Game Informer has even more illustrative bliss from the sequel, hitting newsstands (and mailboxes) after the holiday.

Little else is known about Assassin's Creed 2 at this point, but that's sure to change as its release date draws near. Stay tuned for all the history-ratttling updates as they become available!

Thanks to Game Informer for the fashionable update!

When word first came that the popular horror-franchise Fatal Frame would be migrating over to the Nintendo Wii, fans were elated over the prospect of using the Wiimote to help make an already spooky game even spookier.  Then came the worries that Nintendo, long known for their aversion to publishing mature-content titles, might not let the Grasshopper Manufacture (No More Heroes, Killer7) developed title hit retail shelves.  It looks as if their fears have been confirmed, as Nintendo has declined to release the game in North America (and possibly European) markets whatsoever.

Says Tecmo in a recent interview with IGN:

"Nintendo holds the publishing rights to 'Fatal Frame Wii,' which was developed by Tecmo LTD. and Grasshopper Manufacture and released in Japan on July 31, 2008. Nintendo of America has since then decided not to publish the title in North America - consequently, the title will not be released in this territory. As the owner of the IP, Tecmo feels very unfortunate that the fans of the series in North America will not have a chance to play the game, but respects the final decision made by Nintendo of America."

There has been some confusion over the publishing rights for Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, as Nintendo has given conflicting statements over just who owns the publishing rights and when (if ever) the game would see a North American release.  Whether this is the final chapter in bringing what's sure to be a welcome addition to the Wii's slim-pickings of a mature library remains to be seen.  While they have a history of not publishing titles themselves, certainly an arrangement could be made to allow the game's release under one of the console's many third-parties or auxillary publishers.

But if true, this certainly doesn't help dispel the notion that Nintendo has abandoned a segment of their userbase, or much respects the consumer to make their own purchasing decisions.

The micro-managing of videogame statistics continues as the race for console supremecy begins to scrape whatever relevance from each and every numerical value for ammunition for bragging rights and chest-thumping proclamations.

Last week reports coming from media-usage tracking firm Nielsen featured what was apparently a mislabeled graphing chart, in which the company incorrectly listed that January console usage indicated the Xbox 360 retained its lead in the current-generation of gaming consoles among consumers for the month. An email correction was sent to several outlets, explaining the original chart featured mislabled information, and issued a correction that's sure to disappoint some and elate others.

The corrected, updated chart instead shows the most-used consoles for the month were PlayStation 2 (23.7%), Wii (20.7%), Xbox 360 (18.2%), PlayStation 3 (9.0%), Xbox (7.9%), and GameCube (3.3%) bringing up the rear. Portable consoles and PC usage was not listed for the study.

This update does reverse some of the original report's most minute statistics, as the Wii and Xbox 360's positions are reversed, giving Nintendo's console the slight edge over Microsoft's machine.  This also corrects the time consumers spent playing the PlayStation 3, as did the original Xbox. The PlayStation 2, while losing several percentage points, was still the most played gaming console by a wide-margin.

Thanks to Fast-Company for correcting the fast-facts!

The widespread use of videogame achievements (or trophies, unlockables, etc) has changed how many a gamer spend his or her time with any particular game these days.  Gone is the promise of fame and fortune that comes from the highest-scores (well, for most people) as the introduction of particular in-game achievements have taken their place as the current status-conscious must have.  As the originator of the console-achievement system, its only natural for Microsoft to throw their weight (and some pretty big numbers) on their success.

Never one to shy away from sales figures and statistical warfare, Microsoft's own director of product management Aaron Greenberg reported that since their implementation, 360 users have unlocked a staggering 2.5 billion achievements and cumulative Gamerscore points exceeding 52 billion. The article points out this roughly translates to 150 achievements per Xbox Live member.

The sad thing about those billions of gamer achievements is how little I've contributed to the total, even on the easist of settings!  To quote the American Senator Everett Dirksen, "A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money."  But hey, I'd be happy with 20 bucks!

Thanks to Gamasutra!

Awhile back Sony made waves when they announced that the trailer for their anticipated Killzone 2 wasn't just good-looking, but it was interactive.  The trailer was assembled entirely from the PlayStation 3's impressive graphics library, which helped showcase not only the console's potential in delivering the technical goods, but a new form of marketing that blurred the line between viral and entertainment.

As promised, the whole interactive trailer is now online, and ready to suck up those empty megs on your PS3's hard drive.  So for all you curious types and would-be directors, check out the interactive "Bullet Journey" trailer for yourselves on North American PlayStation 3's by heading over to the PlayStation Store.  Impressive?  You tell us!

While it may not have lived up to the unrealistic expectations placed upon it, Sony's adorable and incredibly addictive LittleBigPlanet is hardly the failure some have been claiming.  To help dispel any such notions, the company is releasing some impressive stats on developer Media Molecule's ground-breaking platformer.  Two million users have been adventuring in the LBP universe, 725,000 customized levels have been created, with over 125 million games played since it was first launched in November 2008.

Mark Hardy, Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe's marketing director: 

"LittleBigPlanet is giving people from every walk of life the opportunity to express themselves creatively. The game is just the start. This is creative gaming; never ending experiences that take on lives of their own through their players,"

Some have claimed LittleBigPlanet's "failure" to make an immediate impact at retail was in part to bad timing, having been released during the most lucrative (and overstuffed) time of the year.  Others have questioned the viability of casual-friendly titles for the PlayStation 3 console, seen by many as an elite platform and ill-suited for the market.  The game has gone on to win several industry accolades, including many "Game of the Year" awards and recognitions.

Regardless, the game has managed to stay in the collective consciousness of the gaming public since its release, and has since positioned itself as one of this generation's (and certainly the PS3's) most attractive evergreen titles.

Activision has been called a lot of things, but unambitious isn't one of them.  After practically reinventing the FPS genre with Call of Duty 4, it looks as if the publisher has much bigger plans to help establish the spin-off series than merely changing its name.  While most would be happy with high-sales numbers or mere profitability, that isn't good enough this time around.  For the upcoming release of Modern Warfare 2, they want the biggest prize of all: the biggest-selling game of all-time.

Ambitious?  You betcha, but let's here what brand manager Simon Wells has to say:

"We want to propel this year's title to be the biggest selling video game of all time. That may raise some eyebrows, but step back and look at the franchise's trajectory through preceding launches, and this objective starts to look viable."

Although the more recent Call of Duty: World at War has been a massive hit for the publisher, its reception has been substantially more subdued than its predecessor and that may affect its longterm success.  Part of Call of Duty 4's instant charm was its (relatively) restrained expectations, and given the comments above, isn't something its sequel is likely to enjoy.

Thanks to MCV.

It doesn't look as though Microsoft is letting Sony steal all the thunder, as the headline-shattering news of the PlayStation 2's long-awaited price-drop to $99 has aroused the software giant's attention. To help combat the latest volley by the Japanese giant, it looks like Microsoft has intents to do some price-dropping of their own with the Xbox 360.

It won't take the second-generation Xbox console 9 years to do it, either, as the Xbox 360 is expected to drop its $199 retail tag from $199 to the considerably lower $129, taking the sweet spot once occupied by the PlayStation 2. This represents a massive $70 (US dollars) drop for the Acade Unit, which ships without a hard drive. No word yet if Microsoft plans to follow suit with their Pro Console (currently $299 w/60 GB) or the struggling Elite console ($399 w/120 GB). This allows Microsoft to keep bragging rights as the current-generation's most inexpensive console, with the Nintendo Wii sticking with its original $249 price, and the PlayStation 3 console at $399.

Leaked advertisements on the internet seem to confirm the Xbox 360's price reduction, which directly follows the April 1st price-reduction of the PlayStation 2 unit. Rumors had pegged Sony to drop the retail price of their third-place PlayStation 3 console, which is the only current-generation gaming machine to see yearly sales drops since its November 2006 release. Currently, the Xbox 360 is the second most-popular gaming console with worldwide sales of nearly 30 million units sold. The Nintendo Wii remains the most popular choice, having sold nearly 50 million units worldwide, despite a one-year disadvantage over Microsoft's machine.

No word yet as to when Microsoft plans to unveil the price-reduction, but sources put the date somewhere before Friday, April 10th, just before the lucrative Easter Shopping season and just prior to Good Friday.

UPDATED!!  Click to read the update!!