Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Ships on DS (DS)

Square Enix announced today that its DS-based RTS Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is currently shipping out to North American retailers. Continuing the adventures of Vaan and Penelo (protagonists from Final Fantasy XII on PS2), Revenant Wings takes the pair in a drastically different direction gameplay-wise and focuses on the use of the DS' stylus to manipulate combat units in real time.Aware of the Western gamers' familiarity with the real-time strategy genre, Revenant Wings's director Motomu Toriyama commented, "We adjusted the overall difficulty level of the game for the North American market and introduced a new dungeon and a new boss from Final Fantasy XII. We believe that the US consumers will find the changes very challenging and entertaining."

Record Sales for Nintendo

Nintendo of America sends word that in the first week of the 2007 hiloday shopping season, more Nintendo products have been sold than at any other time in history. Included in this factoid were 650,000 Nintendo DS units and 350,000 Nintendo Wii systems.
Nintendo DS set a new all-time sales record for Thanksgiving week, eclipsing the previous mark of 600,000 Game Boy Advance systems sold during the same period in the United States in 2005. Nintendo DS remains on track to be the top-selling video game system of 2007.Nintendo's 350,000 Wii systems represent the highest one-week U.S. sales total outside of its launch week one year ago. Wii has been dubbed the must-have gift of the 2007 holiday season and has been placed at the top of numerous gift lists. Nintendo has repeatedly increased its shipments and its fiscal-year sales forecast for Wii in an attempt to meet soaring demand. Wii reached 5 million sold in the United States faster than any video game system in history, after only 12 months of availability there.Both Wii and Nintendo DS have continued their yearlong momentum into the holidays without altering their prices. And both remain attractive values for shoppers: Wii has an MSRP of $249.99, while Nintendo DS has an MSRP of $129.99."As shoppers look for ways to maximize their limited holiday spending money, they turn to gifts that can be used by the entire family," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Wii and Nintendo DS offer something for every member of the family. They're the most fun video game experiences at the most affordable price."

Square Enix PAL Release Date Announcements

A number of announcements crossed the wire today from publisher Square Enix in regards to upcoming console PAL release dates. First up was the news that Final Fantasy: Revenant Wings on the DS will hit the UK and Europe on February 15th of next year. FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS sees the evolution of the innovative Gambit system that allows automated commands to be issued during real-time combat. Smart Touch Screen controls provide complete power over your actions and allow you to play solely using the Nintendo DS stylus.Next, the company made note that Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors will be arriving on the Nintendo Wii later in the spring of 2008. DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors, available exclusively on Wii, is an action-packed Virtual Experience where the player becomes the hero of the story. As the hero, the player must use the Wii controller to control their legendary sword, and fight off horde after horde of monsters. Slice at enemies, parry with your shield and block attacks to launch powerful counter-combos.

Official PlayStation Magazine is No More

The January 2007 issue of Official PlayStation Magazine will be the publication's final issue. Today, Ziff Davis Game Group announced that OPM is being discontinued, saying that "the Game Group has determined that Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, a property licensed from Sony Computer Entertainment America and limited to print, no longer fits its strategic vision." OPM was launched nine years ago by Ziff Davis, the same company that publishes Electronic Gaming Monthly and runs both 1up.com and GameVideos.com. The game-enthusiast print industry has been in a decline recently and many publications are looking for ways to expand their offerings as well as their audiences. The Game Group at Ziff Davis is integrating much of its online media with its traditional print media. Many print publishers are making similar moves as the market for gaming magazines continues to dwindle.

A New Tomb Raider is Due Next Year (PSP)

Try your best not to be confused. While Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary is inspired by the original Tomb Radier released in 1996, it's still a brand new game. At least, that's what Eidos is saying in a press release that was sent out this morning. This new offering will use the same tech that powered Tomb Raider: Legend and once again tells the story of Lara Croft's pursuit of the Scion (the mystical artifact, not the car). In today's announcement, Kathryn Clements, Senior Brand Manager at Eidos, says, "Over the years we have had literally thousands of requests to re-make the original Tomb Raider for today's gamer, we have gone a step further, we have taken the original story and made a completely new version for Tomb Raider: Anniversary. We are re-telling an incredible story using today's technology, we've taken all of the key moments from the original game and put them into the context of a brand new Tomb Raider adventure which will make fans of the franchise extremely happy but also attract a completely new audience." Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary is being developed by Crystal Dynamics, the same group behind Tomb Raider: Legend. It's scheduled to be released in 2007 for the PlayStation 2, PSP and PC. Surprisingly, there is no word of an Xbox 360 version.

New Media Manager For PSP

Sony Computer Entertainment America today announced the availability of Media Manager for PSP software for PCs that facilitates the transfer of multimedia content to a PSP system. Building on the initial version of the software released last November, the updated Media Manager offers a new easy-to-use interface and expanded options for converting video, music, and photos; subscribing to podcasts; and backing-up game saves. Among the exciting new features, users can now transfer home videos from DVDs, as well as documents and Internet browser bookmarks from PCs, onto their PSP system.Developed by Sony Media Software, Media Manager is available for download via http://us.playstation.com/mediamanager for $16.99; a boxed version of the software, which includes a 6-foot USB cable, is also available for $24.99.

The Return of After Burner (PSP)

The boys and girls at Planet Moon Studios are hard at work developing After Burner: Black Falcon exclusively for Sony's PSP. AB:BF features 19 officially licensed military fighters, such as the legendary F-14D Tomcat, the F-15E Strike Eagle, and the F-22 Raptor. Each plane will be customizable, and you'll be able to dogfight with your buddies via an Ad Hoc connection. A cooperative mode will also be included, so your buddy can be your wingman. The single-player campaign puts you in the flight suit of a member of a highly classified military group who must retrieve stolen fighters sold to terrorists. Bob Stevenson, CEO of Planet Moon Studios, is quoted in today's announcement saying, "Building After Burner: Black Falcon from the ground-up enables us to craft the game with PSP features in mind with all-new multiplayer modes, customisable jets and over-the-top gameplay. Most importantly, it's approximately 9000% more portable than the original arcade cabinet." After Burner: Black Falcon is scheduled to ship in spring 2007.
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"Madden Curse" Strikes Again (PSP)

Is there anything more reliable than the Madden Curse? The Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander won the NFL MVP in 2005 with a record 28 touchdowns, leading the way to his becoming the cover athlete for Madden NFL 07, but on Monday, the Madden Curse struck again, as Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren announced that the star running back will be benched indefinitely due to a cracked bone in his left foot.In week 1 of the NFL regular season, Shaun Alexander injured his foot in a tough game against the Detroit Lions, but continued to play in weeks 2 and 3 despite missing practices. His 3.1 yards per carry average at the time was well below his regular season totals. In the week 3 game against the New York Giants, Alexander cracked a bone in his left foot, which according to Holmgren has put the league MVP on crutches, and will leave him off the field for several games. "We're looking at a few weeks. Let's put it that way." The history of the so-called Curse goes back to the 2000 edition of the game, when the Detroit Lions' Barry Sanders shared the cover with John Madden. Sanders retired before training camp, so that year's cover athlete wasn't even on the field. In 2002, that year's cover athlete Daunte Culpepper struggled and had his season cut short by a knee injury. The 2003 cover featured Marshall Faulk, who, after suffering an ankle injury, failed to rush for 1000 yards and never did so again in his career. Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who graced the 2004 cover, fractured his right fibula the day after the game was put on store shelves. Last year, quarterback Donovan McNabb had a troubled season, with a sports hernia in the first game and the Eagles underperforming in every possible way.Alexander's injury is tragic news for fantasy football owners who took the RB with their top pick this year. The incredibly durable Alexander has started in 69 of the last 70 games for the Seahawks, having missed only one start in order to witness the birth of his daughter. (He went on to play in that game in the second quarter.) Backup running back Maurice Morris will get the starts in his absence.It will be interesting to see who will make it on the cover of the 2008 edition of Madden; we're sure football fans, fantasy football players, and probably some Las Vegas betting agencies will all be watching the situation closely.
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Silent Hill Origins Attacks Stores (PSP)

Konami sends word today that Silent Hill Origins has shipped to stores for the Sony PSP. The game actually pre-dates the original Silent Hill title in terms of story, and is said to feature all-new gameplay elements. "Fans of Silent Hill can expect a fear-inducing experience with Silent Hill Origins," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "We're adding to the mythos by revealing some secrets hinted at in the original Silent Hill and have added an all-new soundtrack from series composer Akira Yamaoka to the elaborate puzzles and chilling storyline that has made Silent Hill a hit for gamers everywhere."Reborn on the PSP system, gamers take on the role of Travis Grady, a lone truck driver making a routine delivery when he makes an unfortunate detour to the mysterious town of Silent Hill. Players must help Travis escape the city's horrific inhabitants and unravel the mystery of the strange hallucinations from Travis' past, visions that have plagued him since childhood. Updated controls maximize combat, allowing Travis to use his fists, his wits and an array of weapons including a meat cleaver, pool cue and sledgehammer to fight his way through the nightmarish world of Silent Hill and face more than one possible ending. Taking full advantage of the PSP¿ system's graphics, sound, and portability, Silent Hill Origins sets a new standard in handheld gaming terror.

Sony Unveils PlayStation Store for PSP

Earlier today, Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that PlayStation Store PC access is now available. Before today's announcement, PSP owners who wished to play PlayStation titles such as Crash Bandicoot and Syphon Filter on the go had to hook up their handheld to a PS3. Users will be now able to do so online with a PC. Whether you own a PS3 or not, you'll be able to set up a PlayStation Network account and download free content to your handheld, such as wallpapers and themes. The biggest news, however, is the ability to purchase downloadable games to the handheld, which extends beyond PS1 titles. If your memory stick is large enough, you'll also be able to download existing PSP titles, like Gangs of London and WipEout Pure. As of press time, only WipEout Pure is available; it's priced at $14.99 USD. Demos of Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow and SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Tactical Strike are also on the site for download, with the promise of more demos forthcoming. SCEA plans to release PSP-formatted trailers for upcoming games on the store's site. In addition, SCEA announced another installment of the Syphon Filter series, Combat Ops, will be available as a digital-only title for $9.99 USD. PS3 owners will be able to use their PSN logins on the website to make purchases and manage accounts without using their console.

Syphon Filter: Combat Ops Content Pack Released (PSP)

SCEA has launched new downloadable content for PSP gamers which expands the multiplayer components of both Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and the more recently released Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow. Adding features such as mission and combat modifiers, map editing and sharable user-generated content, this pack is dubbed Syphon Filter: Combat Ops. It's available on the PSN Store for $10. For the first time, users have the ability to create their own multiplayer missions with the ability to edit objectives, avatars, spawn points, and zip line locations, then upload them to the game server to share with other PSP owners worldwide. A ranking system for shared maps allows players to rate maps they have downloaded and played. Developer-created missions will also be available for players who just want to jump into a match. Developed using the Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror engine, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops features 5 modes of four versus four gameplay, including Retrieval, Sabotage, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Rogue Agent.Key Features:
Downloadable only title launched from the PSP XMB
Create, play, and share missions with other PSP owners
Players can vote on maps they have played, providing a ranking system for all maps
Up to Eight person multiplayer via ad-hoc and infrastructure
Based on multiplayer engine developed for Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
Five types of gameplay modes including Retrieval, Sabotage, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Rogue Agent