Game News: December 07, 2006

ADVISORY: Microsoft's Xbox 360 sales story withdrawn (Reuters)
   

Reuters - The Los Angeles story headlined "Microsoft's Xbox 360 US sales top first Xbox--NPD" is withdrawn because the data supporting the story may be inaccurate. Reuters is waiting for an update from the company. A new story may be issued.

Group advocates video game rating system (AP)
   AP - With the holiday shopping season underway, an industry group for video games is trying to encourage parents to use its voluntary ratings to protect children from graphic images of sex and violence.

Blu-ray DVD drive no bonus for some PS3 buyers (Reuters)
   Reuters - Gamers love Sony Corp.'s (6758.T) new PlayStation 3 for its graphic capabilities and firepower, but the advanced Blu-ray DVD drive is annoying some by raising the cost, slowing production and forcing them to buy into a format they've not yet aligned with.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 sales top first Xbox: NPD (Reuters)
   

Reuters - The U.S. sales of Microsoft Corp.'s new Xbox 360 video game console during its first 13 months in stores were 6 percent higher than comparable sales of the original Xbox, market research group NPD said on Thursday.

5WG: Holiday Sports Picks for 2006
   5WG has some help for those with a dedicated sports gamer on their holiday wish list.

CGEMS Calls for Computer Graphics Curriculum
   

The Computer Graphics Educational Materials Source (CGEMS) has announced its call for materials for a special issue on "Spreading the Computer Graphics Curriculum" to collect educational material defining the international curriculum in Computer Graphics.

Analyst: Apple Working On Game Console? (PC Magazine)
   PC Magazine - Apparently December is the month as far as wild speculation from the mouths of analysts is concerned.

Sony updates PS3 firmware
   Latest firmware patch poking 720p-native displays with a stick of irritation.
A new firmware patch released for PS3 - updating the system to version 1.30 - introduces new features to Sony's console - but apparently issues with resolution output remain.

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Tekken 5 resurrected for PS3 download
   Updated version of beat-'em-up Dark Resurrection is punching its way onto PlayStation Store.
A tweaked version of Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, and based on the arcade game, is heading to PS3 via download service PlayStation Store.

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Nobody queues at official Wii launch event
   HMV Oxford Street completely devoid of Wii-hungry punters - find out why inside.
What a surprise we had this afternoon when we travelled down to HMV Oxford Street - the location of the official UK Wii launch event - only to find that not a single soul is queuing outside for Nintendo's new console... because they've all been sent home.



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More families playing video games but concerns remain (Reuters)
   Reuters - A new generation of technologically savvy parents are turning gaming into a family event, according to a new survey, but critics pushing for greater monitoring of video game content remain concerned.

Nintendo Warns Wii Owners: Don't Let Go (PC Magazine)
   PC Magazine - Nintendo Co. Ltd. has some cautionary advice for players of its Wii video game console: when waving the controller, use the wrist strap, keep your palms dry and, whatever you do, don't let go.

Analyst says Apple console possible
   That Apple will forge a path into the videogame console hardware scene is a "distinct possibility", reckons Prudential analyst Jesse Tortora.
"We think the videogame market represents a distinct possibility for Apple, especially considering that it recently announced the availability of videogames for its iPod through its iTunes store," Tortora has stated according to a reports.

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"Calm down" with the Wii Remote says Miyamoto
   People are getting more excited than Nintendo expected, causing all kinds of telly smashing problems. Miyamoto and Iwata come to the rescue.
On the eve of the European Wii launch, word has come from Japan that gamers are getting too excited with the Wii and accidentally throwing the Wii Remote towards their TV sets.

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Child arrested for opening his GBA before Xmas
   Mother calls the cops after her 12-year-old son opens his Xmas presents early. He just couldn't wait for his GBA...
A local paper in South Carolina has reported that a boy who opened his presents three weeks before the big day had the cops called on him by his own mother. The boy was actually arrested and taken down the nick and then charged with petty larceny. But because he was under age he didn't have to do any hard time.

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R6 Vegas glitches to be patched
   Single-player and multiplayer bugs to be crushed by a mighty Ubisoft boot of patch justice.
Ubisoft is shortly to patch its tactical shooter Rainbow Six: Vegas (Xbox 360) and has been good enough to release a weighty list of what's being addressed. So, if bugs and crashes have been plaguing your assault on those naughty terrorist blokes and causing you to rip handfuls of hair out in frustration, hopefully we can now say: calm down dear.

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Gamers sue Microsoft following Live update
   US gamers join forces to file a class action lawsuit following problems caused by the fall 360 dashboard update.
The recent fall update (read the story here) for Xbox 360 seems to have been plagued with problems for more than just a few gamers.

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Blue Dragon's 200,000 unit goal in Japan
   Mistwalker's 360 RPG launches in Japan - Microsoft aims to sell 200,000 copies.
Flagship Xbox 360 RPG Blue Dragon has finally hit shops in Japan - the title that Microsoft hopes to finally cover the Far East in a green Xbox hue.

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No Wiis until "next year" without pre-order
   UK retailers tell CVG there's a major shortage of Nintendo Wiis until "after the new year" - if you haven't pre-ordered, that is.
Ahead of the European launch tomorrow, several UK retailers have reported to CVG that gamers without Wii pre-orders are unlikely to get a console before 2007.

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Spore on track for second half of 2007 birth
   How do we know this? Because the game's creator Will Wright has said so.
The Sims creator and all-round videogame design genius Will Wright has confirmed that his latest game Spore is on track for release in the second half of next year.

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Nintendo investigating Wii strap problem (AP)
   

AP - Nintendo's president acknowledged Thursday the just-launched Wii video-game machine may have a problem with a strap that secures its trademark wandlike remote-controller to the player's wrist.