Game News: November 22, 2006

Microsoft says "Gears" sells 1 million copies (Reuters)
   

Reuters - Microsoft Corp. said on Wednesday it had sold 1 million copies of its game "Gears of War" in two weeks, making it the fastest-selling title for its Xbox 360 video game console.

Construction sets hot item for holidays (AP)
   AP - A set of Lincoln Logs might not make a child's eyes light up quite like a new video game would, but retailers say parents' concerns about inundating kids with electronics are making construction sets hot items this holiday shopping season.

EU probes tax-break plan for video games (AP)
   AP - European Union regulators said Wednesday they're investigating France's proposed tax break for video game makers to see if it's an illegal subsidy.

Make Oblivion even bigger
   Knights of the Nine ready for download on Xbox Live Marketplace.
The first Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Xbox 360 expansion Knights of the Nine is now available for download from Xbox Live Marketplace, for 800 Microsoft points (6.80 GBP).

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South Park, CSI and more now on Xbox Live
   The first wave of TV shows and movies are available for download from today on Xbox Live Marketplace. If you live in the US, that is.
As promised US Marketplace now has television shows to own and movies to rent from CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, with more content hitting Xbox Live Marketplace every week.

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This Week in Xbox: November 15-22, 2006
   Games Editor Denny Atkin brings you all the latest news in what's happening this week on the official Xbox website, xbox.com.

Wii launch brings Zelda delight to Animal Crossing
   The special present is unwrapped to reveal...
The Zelda Sword! Yep, we knew a Zelda-related gift from Nintendo was to pop into Animal Crossing on DS around the time of the Wii launch and touchdown of Twilight Princess on Wii in the US, but now the curtain's been fully drawn back. Or, if you like, the secret revealed, the veil ripped down. You can see a pic of it here.

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CVG needs you!
   Fancy working for gaming's greatest web site? Read on...
Want to break into this industry we call gaming and work for the world's greatest gaming web site? Well, we may as they say, have a little job for you Brian...

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EU probes "cultural" French video games (AFP)
   

AFP - EU regulators said they were opening an investigation into whether proposed tax breaks for the French video games industry constituted legal support for "genuine cultural projects."

Turbo Graphix 16 Hits Reach Wii Shop
   'Bonk's Adventure' and 'Bomberman '93,' originally released on the Turbo Grafx 16, have both been added to the Wii Shop Channel and are available for download. Like every Turbo Grafx 16 game offered on Nintendo's new download service, each of these games goes for 600 Wii points ($6). Nintendo had p...

Download Movies to Your Xbox 360
   The next phase in the evolution of Xbox Live has begun. On the anniversary of Xbox 360, Microsoft has launched the Video Marketplace. You can now download movies and TV shows to your 360 hard drive. All TV shows downloaded are yours to keep, but the movies are just rentals, which automatically delet...

Next Potter Game Planned As Next-Gen
   First details of Harry Potter's latest videogame adventure have just hit the wires, with EA announcing 'The Order of the Phoenix' will cast its spell on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and most current-gen formats in the summer of next year. Based on the fifth book in the series by JK Rowling,...

Test Drive More Cars
   For the past few months, gamers have been driving the virtual roads of a tropic island in 'Test Drive Unlimited.' Seven new cars will soon begin popping up online thanks to recently added pr...

Buy New Hats for Your 'Pinata'
   How micro do you like your transactions? This is a question posed by Microsoft as it releases the 'Viva Pinata' Accessory Pack 2. The new pack, which costs 90 Microsoft Points (US$1.12) to download, includes three hats. The first accessory pack, which cost the same amount, came with only two hats. S...

VGA Announces Impressive Roll Call
   Spike TV has announced more presenters and musical guests for the 2006 Video Game Awards (VGAs). Joining host Samuel L. Jackson will be 50 Cent, Seth Green, Tony Hawk, Method Man, actress Rachael Leigh Cook, and NBA player Mike Bibby. Rockers Tenacious D and AFI will be stopping in for musical perfo...

PS3 Loses Two More Exclusives
   Two once PlayStation 3 exclusives aren't so exclusive any more. Koei announced today plans to bring 'Fatal Inertia' and 'Bladestorm' to the Xbox 360. 'Fatal Inertia' is a futuristic battle racing game developed by Koei Canada. The 360 version will be Xbox Live compatible, allowing for online races ...

'Gears' Shatters Xbox Records
   'Gears of War' is a hit. Big shock. In fact, 'Gears' has now sold more than one million copies worldwide, making it the fastest-selling Xbox 360 title of 2006. Gamers bought 'Gears' and many of them...

Crystal Clear 'Resistance'
   Wondering why the online audio in 'Resistance: Fall of Man' works so well? Sony tapped VoiceAge Corporation to enhance the online audio. VoiceAge technology is said to 'dramatically enhance voice com...

RIT's Computing College Offering New Master of Science in Game Design
   

The B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology has announced three new specialized masters of science degrees, including a New York state approved degree program in game design.

Wii crushes Amazon pre-order records
   Pre-orders snapped up in just 7 minutes.
It took ultra-keen Nintendo hawks just seven minutes to completely exhaust Amazon UK's allotted Wii pre-orders yesterday, making it the fastest selling product in the site's history, Amazon has revealed.

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First GRAW 2 details emerge
   Better visually and technically for Mexico-based second instalment.
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 is coming surprisingly quickly, as early as March or April next year, if Ubisoft's recent financial statement is to be believed (and these things usually don't lie).

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Harry Potter strikes again
   Further wizardy from Potter and EA, with the series now making the move to next-gen in Order of the Phoenix.
The inevitable Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix videogame is being brought to - wait for it - Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, PSP, DS, GBA and PC by EA in 2007.



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Small Arms goes live
   Sidescrolling blaster now available.
The latest title to hit Xbox Live Arcade, Small Arms is now available for download for 800 Microsoft points.

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First wave of PSone games for PSP revealed
   Download the likes of Resident Evil: Director's Cut to PS3 and then transfer it to PSP.
Over in Japan, Sony's unveiled the initial wave of PSone titles to be released that consumers will be able to download to PS3 and then transfer over to PSP via USB.

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Premium 360 and Gears for under £300
   From Friday 300 notes gets you an Xbox 360 premium bundle and Epic's stunner.
Microsoft will be rolling out a special Gears of War retail offer this week, which will include an Xbox 360 premium bundle along with a copy of Epic's chainsaw-revving shooter.

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Mistwalker banks on Blue Dragon
   So much so that Hironobu Sakaguchi is already planning a Blue Dragon sequel.
Word has come via Japanese gaming bible Famitsu that Sakaguchi believes Xbox 360 does have a future in Japan, which will be music to Peter Moore's ears.

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Wii Tanks - first screens
   Check out the best mini-game in the Wii Play package.
Of the nine mini-games in the Wii Play package, the Tank game is the one we liked the most, as you will know if you read our hands-on feature, and here are the first screens of it.



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Play Zammo on Xbox Live
   Grange Hill crackhead Samuel 'Zammo' Maquire is up for a Marble Blast face-off.
There's a clear divide in the CVG office this morning, as we set apart those too young to remember Grange Hill cult hero Zammo, and those old and wrinkly enough to actually find excitement in his Xbox Live appearance tomorrow.

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Of course Gears Of War is coming to PC
   It might for be for a few years yet, but you can bet it'll happen one day.
Gears of War will go to PC eventually, in the same way Halo 2 is. It might be a few years after the Xbox 360 release, but it will happen.

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