Game News: November 01, 2006

Nintendo's Wii Console Poised To Ship (TechWeb)
   TechWeb - Some 4 million next-gen Wii game consoles are expected to ship this holiday season following its Nov. 19 launch, Nintendo says.

Xbox 360 welcomes new world of entertainment
   At X06 in Barcelona, Microsoft stunned the gaming communities with their announcements of new exclusive titles, new expansions of classic franchises, and other exciting releases for the coming year.

Xbox 360 Gears up for Holiday Season
   Microsoft delivered the fine art of gaming at X06 showcasing an extensive, groundbreaking collection of games for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, Games for Windows, and Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360.

Gears of War Chainsaws its Way to the Big Screen
   Gamers in four cities will get to play Gears of War at special preview screenings for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.

TotemBall Dances on to Xbox Live Arcade
   TotemBall is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD from Xbox Live Arcade, starting Wednesday, October 4, at 0800 GMT (1:00 A.M. Pacific). Anyone with a Gold or Silver membership can download the game at no charge to the Xbox 360 Hard Drive or Memory Unit.

Just Cause Tips from Prima Games
   Take the revolution to the streets and strike a blow for the people with these exclusive tips for Just Cause from the pages of the Prima Games Guide

Hollywood Goes Gaming: Scarface Gets a Virtual Sequel
   Don't miss all the details in our interview with Pete Wanat, executive producer of Scarface: The World Is Yours.

NBA Live 07 Tips from Prima Games
   The competition is fierce in this realistic next-gen basketball title, so get a leg up on the competition with these exclusive tips from Prima Games Guides.

Prima Guide: Just Cause
   It's your job to start a revolution, but you don't need to do it without help. Check out these exclusive pages from the Prima Games page for Just Cause.

Prima Guide: NBA Live 07
   Game on! Hoops season is here and it is time to shine on the courts. Professional basketball has never been prettier, and now you can get the edge with these exclusive Prima pages.

The Godfather The Game Tips from Prima Games
   Take an offer you can't refuse from Prima Games with these exclusive tips for The Godfather The Game.

Prima Guide: The Godfather The Game
   Prima has an offer you can't refuse. Free pages from their Game Guide for The Godfather The Game for Xbox 360. Look for new challenges and new missions in this next-gen build of the hit movie-based game.

Hardcore Stealth: Splinter Cell Double Agent
   Hardcore breaks down Sam Fisher's latest hardcore adventures in Double Agent. Want to take it to the next level? Here's how.

News: Gears of War Invades Tinseltown
   To celebrate the upcoming Emergence Day, several lucky gamers will win the chance to play the highly-anticipated Xbox 360 title Gears of War prior to launch and party with celebrities living and dead at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Nintendo Says Plenty More Wii Games on the Way (NewsFactor)
   NewsFactor - The big guns at Nintendo indicated this week that the company is preparing for its largest console launch in nearly a decade with four million Wii systems ready to ship. While the bulk of the machines will head to the United States, Nintendo still expects supply to fall far short of demand this holiday season.

Double Agent: Big Fish, Small Pond - Walkthrough
   Sam Fisher begins his life as a double agent. Use these tips to successfully complete his second mission as he busts out of prison.

Double Agent: Gone Fishing - Walkthrough
   Take a dark journey to Iceland in the beginning of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent. These tips will help you successfully completely Sam's first mission.

Double Agent Tips
   Tips and tricks for succeeding in the newest edition to Tom Clancy's hit stealth franchise: Splinter Cell Double Agent.

NFS Carbon: Embracing the Factions
   Our hands on preview breaks down what's new in Need for Speed Carbon from Electronic Arts.

EA overhauls game download service (AP)
   

AP - Electronic Arts Inc. is taking the wraps off of a major overhaul to its download service for computer games, signaling the largest video game publisher's commitment to the growing trend of online distribution.

Nintendo Announces Wii Game Lineup (NewsFactor)
   NewsFactor - Nintendo executives indicated this week that the company is preparing for its largest console launch in nearly a decade with four million Wii systems ready to ship. While the bulk of the machines will head to the United States, Nintendo still expects supply to fall far short of demand this holiday season.

Confirmed UK Wii launch list
   Nintendo confirms to CVG Brits will get 27 Wii games and 31 Virtual console games this December.
Yes, it's a couple less than the US - they're getting Excite Truck and Trauma Centre this year, while we'll have to wait until after Christmas.

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Saints Row patched
   Reduced lag and exploit fixes for THQ's 360 crime spree.
THQ and Volition have released a patch for their Xbox 360 crime-'em-up Saints Row, that sorts out a number of multiplayer issues as well as general glitches.

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Manage your PSP media
   New Media Manager download lets you transfer content between your PC and PSP.
Courtesy of Sony's Media Manager for PSP - releasing on November 3 - you can entertain yourself will all sorts of fun file transfering between the PSP handheld and a PC.

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60GB 360 HDD revealed?
   Japanese HQ images reveal bumped-up hard disk for Xbox 360.
Following rumours that a 100GB HDD was heading for the Xbox 360, images have surfaced from Microsoft's Japanese HQ suggesting that a bumped up HDD is indeed on the way, but not the 100 one.



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See Zelda: TP in action
   New gameplay footage shows four Wii newbies try Zelda for the first time.
Four new videos have been posted on Wii.com that show Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess being played on Wii.

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Harrison talks PS3's challenge to Live Arcade
   Around 40 Sony-backed "products" currently in development for online distribution initiative, says Sony exec.
"About 40 products", or games, financially backed by Sony are currently in development for the company's E-Distribution Initiative - its answer to Xbox Live Arcade - Sony's Phil Harrison has revealed.

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Koei whips up a PS3 Bladestorm
   See sword-wielding armies clash blades in Koei's PS3 war sim - new screens inside.
Apparently, there was a huge war in the 14th century - back when people couldn't go on killing sprees on PS2 so they did it in real life instead - over who would be the successor to the French throne.



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Molyneux talks B&W2, Movies disappointment
   "I'm going to remain really disappointed that we had to release some of those titles," Lionhead boss tells CVG.
Peter Molyneux has revealed his disappointment over having to rush acclaimed PC sim The Movies and god game Black & White 2 to retail, in an exclusive interview with CVG to be published soon.

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Rappers get real as gaming, music firms partner (Reuters)
   

Reuters - Cutting-edge music has long been an integral feature of high-end video games. Now, as Electronic Arts and the gaming arm of Def Jam Records gear up for the third in their successful series of Def Jam-branded game titles, and first for next-generation game platforms, music is being incorporated into the fabric of the gameplay as well.

'Final Fantasy XII' Now Available
   Square Enix has announced that 'Final Fantasy XII' is available at retail. Exclusive to the PlayStation 2, 'Final Fantasy XII' has already sold more than 2.4 million units in Japan since its release on March 16, 2006. The twelfth installment in the most celebrated RPG franchise looks to continue it...

PES 6 demo hits the 'net
   He dribbles, he shoots, he scores - Konami kicks a taster of its latest soccer masterpiece onto the pitch.
A demo of the PC version of Pro Evolution Soccer 6 is now available for download.

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Japan Gets More Wii for Less
   Were you impressed by Nintendo's big Virtual Console lineup for the European and American markets? Well prepare to feel a sting not unlike a Wiimote being stabbed repeatedly into your heart. Across the Pacific (or the continent, if you're in Europe) Nintendo has announced its Japanese Virtual Conso...

DVD Playback Back on Wii
   When Nintendo spilled the beans on its launch plans for the upcoming Wii, gamers were disappointed to learn that DVD playback had been removed from the console's feature set. The decision to leave it out was...

Wii's European Launch
   As part of what shall be known henceforth as Wednesday Wii Day, Nintendo has revealed the final list of European games set to launch alongside the console on December 8. Totalling 23 titles from day one, a ...

Wii's Launch Library
   Nintendo of America announced that 62 games - 32 of them Wii titles and another 30 Virtual Console classics - will be available for its new generation console in the first five weeks of launch. Before the e...

'Crackdown' Confusion
   'Criminal Crackdown,' the latest from Incog and David Jaffe due out as a downloadable online game for PS3, promised to be an instant hit when it debuted at Sony's Gamers Day a few weeks back. But don't go looking for 'Criminal Crackdown' any time soon ... in fact, you will never actually be able to ...

Programming an RTS Game with Direct3D Book Released
   

'Homecourt' Advantage
   Don't call it 'NBA Street 4.' EA's 3-on-3 hoops title has a new name: 'NBA Street Homecourt.' Developed by EA Vancouver, the latest addition to the Street family will be available on PS3 and Xbox 360, dashing the hopes of the Wii faithful to see Mario dunking on Shaq. The series previously focused ...

Making It to 'The Bigs'
   When 2K Sports nabbed the third-party exclusive rights to the MLB license, it agreed to promote professional baseball in as many ways as possible. Today, 2K Sports announced it is expanding its take on America's (second) favorite pastime with a new over-the-top baseball title. 'The Bigs,' developed ...

'Forza 2' Show Gains Speed
   Get your ass in gear, Forza fans. Speed, a cable network dedicated to motor sports, is bringing Microsoft's Forza franchise to TV. 'Forza Motorsport Showdown,' a four-part miniseries, debuts in February 2007. Produced by Bud Brutsman ('Payback') and hosted by Lee 'Hawk' Reherman of 'American Gladia...

Japan gets extra Virtual Console games
   19 additional classics headed for Japan - on the cheap too!.
There's a bit of envy in the office this morning, as Nintendo of Japan revealed its Wii Virtual Console release list and pricing details - and Japanese gamers seem to be getting a much better deal than us.

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Rappers get real as gaming, music firms partner (Reuters)
   Reuters - Cutting-edge music has long been an integral feature of high-end video games.