Great games blog

Here’s the full list of all 104 of the PlayStation (2, 3, Portable) games that Sony have said make up their Christmas 2007 list. Which of these games would you put on your Christmas gifts list?

Take a look and find out if you see anything you like…

PlayStation 3
First-Party:
* The Eye of Judgement
* Heavenly Sword
* NBA 08
* Lair
* Folklore
* Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
* Uncharted: Drakes Fortune
* Warhawk

Third-Party:
* Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision
* Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Activision
* Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, Activision
* Jericho, Codemasters
* Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, Eidos
* FIFA 08, EA
* Medal of Honor Airborne, EA
* Rock Band, EA
* Orange Box, The, EA
* Simpsons Game, The, EA
* Bladestorm: The Hundred Years’ War, Koei
* LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Lucas Arts
* BlackSite: AREA 51, Midway
* John Woo Presents Stranglehold Collector’s Edition, Midway
* Unreal Tournament 3, Midway
* Time Crisis 4, Namco Bandai
* SEGA Rally Revo, Sega
* College Hoops 2K8, Take 2 Interactive
* WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, THQ
* Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights, THQ
* MX vs. ATV Untamed, THQ
* Assassin’s Creed, UbiSoft
* Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII, UbiSoft
* Haze, UbiSoft
* TimeShift, Vivendi
* Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Game of the Year Edition, Zenimax

PlayStation Network
* High Velocity Bowling
* PAIN
* Everyday Shooter
* Go! Sports Ski
* Go! Sports Skydiving
* Mesmerize 1
* Trials of Topoq
* MotorStorm Christmas Livery
* Toy Home
* Twisted Metal 2 (PS One)
* MotorStorm Premium Pack 2
* Resistance: Fall of Man: Map Pack 2
* Operation Creature Feature
* Aquatopia
* Snakeball
* flOw Download Pack
* MotorStorm Vehicle and Livery Pack
* PixelJunk Monsters
* Folklore Download Packs 1 and 2
(more…)

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What are the best-selling games in America, Japan, and Europe (UK) this week? Thanks to Amazon online sales data here are the games that are the most popular now.

Nintendo Wii
North America: 1. Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo), 2. Wii Play (Nintendo), 3. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Sega), 4. Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party (Konami), 5. Game Party (Midway).

Japan: 1. Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo), 2. Wii Sports (Nintendo), 3. Mario & Sonic at Bejing Olympics (Sega), 4. Hajimete no Wii (Nintendo), 5. Swing Golf Pangya 2nd Shot! (Tecmo).

Europe: 1. Big Brain Academy for Wii (Nintendo), 2. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Sega), 3. Carnival Funfair Games (2K Games), 4. Mario Party 8 (Nintendo), 5. FIFA 08 (EA Sports).

Xbox 360
North America: 1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision), 2. Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft), 3. Halo 3 (Microsoft), 4. Halo 3: Legendary Edition (Microsoft), 5. Mass Effect (Microsoft).

Japan: 1. Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft), 2. Dead Rising / Gears of War — Xbox 360 Platinum Double Pack (Capcom / Microsoft), 3. The Idol M@ster — Xbox 360 Platinum Collection (Namco), 4. Guilty Gear 2: Overture (Arc System Works), 5. Ace Combat 6: Kaihou e no Senka (Namco).

Europe: 1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision), 2. Halo 3 (Microsoft), 3. Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft), 4. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami), 5. Mass Effect (Microsoft).

PlayStation 3
North America: 1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision), 2. Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft), 3. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (SCEA), 4. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (SCEA), 5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (Activision).

Japan: 1. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 (Konami), 2. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (Koei), 3. Ratchet & Clank Future (SCEI), 4. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Spike), 5. Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (Spike).

Europe: 1. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami), 2. Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction (SCEE), 3. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision), 4. Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft), 5. FIFA 08 (EA Sports).

PlayStation 2 (more…)

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MX vs. ATV Untamed kicks it up a notch and shifts into high gear as the offroad franchise returns. THQ’s Rhythm Racing engine allows for new stunts and techniques, retaining the smooth feel of off-road racing at full speed.

Attempt to own the offroad by dominating the innovative new “X-Cross Tournament.” X-Cross brings together 8 unique racing series like Endurocross, Opencross, Supercross, Waypoint and SuperMoto and then crosses them into one ultimate offroad championship. Brand new styles of racing are born as powerful vehicles tear through treacherous trails in the new Opencross mode, while then shifting gears to navigate boulders, logs, and water pits in Endurocross. Players can take control of the new ORV Sport and multiple other vehicles, including Monster and Trophy Trucks, as they blitz through rough rivers, rip though swampy everglades, and blaze through the desert dunes. Amp up your favorite vehicles’ power, handling, and acceleration with more than 100 sponsor parts and accessories.

Be ready for speed and adventure with 10 massive open worlds to explore!

The racing game has a release date on December 17th for Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii and DS.

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The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), has named Honorary Chairman and former President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Ken Kutaragi, the recipient of the coveted 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award which will be bestowed at the Interactive Achievement Awards (IAA) ceremony on February 7th 2008 at Red Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in conjunction with the annual D.I.C.E. Summit 2008. Congratulations Ken!

Recognized internationally as the “Father of PlayStation,” Kutaragi will be honored for revolutionizing the global in-home entertainment market with the creation and monstrous success of the PlayStation computer entertainment systems. The launch of the original PlayStation which was launched in 1994 and the PlayStation 2 which launched in 2000 went on to become the most popular gaming system of the era, resulting in combined shipments of more than 230 million units worldwide.

“Ken Kutaragi’s passion, innovative thinking and business savvy sparked a monumental movement that was unstoppable,” said Joseph Olin, president, AIAS. “If it wasn’t for Ken and his concept of the original PlayStation, there wouldn’t be the billion dollar industry there is today. His contributions have clearly set new standards for developers, publishers and consumers worldwide.” — Via Dicesummit

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Here’s a list of this weeks US game releases. The avalanche of lots of blockbuster games this month is over, your wallet is safe again. The most popular games are Geometry Wars: Galaxies on DS and Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords on Wii. On the downloadable games front we’ve got today’s Double Dribble, Vegas Stakes, Ecco Jr. on the Wii Virtual Console; Asteroids Deluxe on Xbox Live Arcade (updates Wednesday); and PAIN on the PlayStation Store (updates Thursday).

Monday:
Double Dribble - $5 (Wii Virtual Console)
Ecco Jr. - $8 (Wii Virtual Console)
Vegas Stakes - $8 (Wii Virtual Console)

Tuesday:
Boogie (DS)
Cranium Kabookii (Wii)
Cruis’n (Wii)
Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey (PC)
Game Party (Wii)
Geometry Wars: Galaxies (DS)
History Channel: Battle for the Pacific (Wii, Xbox 360)
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Wii)
Speedball 2 Tournament (PC)

Wednesday:
Asteroids Deluxe - $5 (Xbox Live Arcade)
Chicken Hunter (DS)
Shadowgrounds Survivor (PC)

Thursday:
PAIN - $6 (PlayStation Store)

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Capcom’s own Vice-President of Strategic Planning & Business Development, Christian Svensson, explains how Okami Wii was brought into development. It’s a nice behind-the-scenes explanation. They might even improve the Wii version!

“Bringing Back the Wolf (or How Okami Wii Came to Be)

It’s not a mystery that Okami is a much loved game by its fans and the media. It’s won just about every award you can think of. It’s a testament to Clover’s unwavering vision and attention to detail.

That said, it’s also not a secret that the game in its first outing didn’t fare as well sales- wise as a game of its quality deserved. There are many reasons for this, and I’ll touch on at least one, a bit further below.

Your Opinion Matters (No, Really)

But before I do that, I want to talk about feedback Capcom has received from our consumers and how we’re trying to be responsive to it. Okami Wii specifically exists because of that direct communication, especially those we receive on our message boards (even if they’re sometimes mean to us).

Even before the Okami’s PS2 release, the media and Capcom fans would constantly ask us if it was ever going to come to Wii, citing the interface as being ideal for the brush mechanics. Hell, even in the week prior to the Wii announcement, there were questions in our Ask Capcom section, requesting the game (and some hot fan-created Wii packaging too… I’ve already challenged our marketing group to make sure ours is better).

The Lifecycle Factor
(more…)

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Back in April 2006, when the Wii was still called the Revolution, NiGHTS Into Dreams was announced as being re-worked for Revolution. Japanese games magazine Famitsu today reports that an enhanced port of the original Sega Saturn game NiGHTS into Dreams will be coming to the Playstation 2 in Japan on February 21st, 2008. A bit of an odd choice, since most developers release new PS2 games on Wii as well as the sequel NiGHTS 2 coming to Wii next month, but it a remake of the first game is coming and that’s all that matters (fingers crossed for release outside of Japan).

The PS2 version will display in 16:9 widescreen, and feature slightly improved graphics. The game will also include galleries of video, art, and stills from the marketing and production of the game, reports Joystiq. Take a look at the NiGHTS into Dreams scan.

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Here’s a list of this weeks US game releases. This is the third huge release week this month with many awesome blockbuster games. The most popular games are Mass Effect on Xbox 360, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune on PS3, Unreal Tournament 3 on PC, Rock Band on Xbox 360 & PS3, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings on DS, Geometry Wars Galaxies on Wii & DS, and there’s even a little love for the arcade shooting games Link’s Crossbow Training that comes with the Wii Zapper and Time Crisis 4 that includes the Guncon 3 lightgun. On the downloadable games front we’ve got today’s Wrecking Crew, Sonic 3D Blast, Super Air Zonk on the Wii Virtual Console and Undertow on Xbox Live Arcade (updates Wednesday). No word on any PlayStation Store (updates Thursday) games yet.

Monday:
CSI: Dark Motives (DS)
College Hoops 2k8 (PS2, PS3, Xbox 360)
Eschalon: Book 1 (PC)
Link’s Crossbow Training (Wii)
Mario Party DS (DS)
Medal of Honor: Airborne (PS3)
Sonic 3D Blast - $8 (Wii Virtual Console)
Super Air Zonk - $8 (Wii Virtual Console)
Time Crisis 4 (PS3)
TimeShift (PS3)
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)
Unreal Tournament 3 (PC)
Wrecking Crew - $5 (Wii Virtual Console)

Tuesday:
7 Wonders of the Ancient World (PS2)
AMF Bowling Pinbusters! (Wii)
Cabela’s Monster Bass (PS2)
Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess (PS2, PC, Xbox 360)
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (DS)
Geometry Wars: Galaxies (Wii)
Ghost Squad (Wii)
Godzilla Unleashed (PS2, DS)
History Channel: Battle for the Pacific (PS2, PC)
Indoor Sports (Wii)
John Deere: Harvest in the Heartland (DS)
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PC)
Luxor: Pharaoh’s Challenge (PS2)
Mass Effect (Xbox 360)
Monster Jam (Wii)
Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus (PC, Xbox 360, PS2)
Rock Band (Xbox 360, PS3)
Showtime Championship Boxing (Wii)
Soulcalibur Legends (Wii)
Strawberry Shortcake: The Four Seasons Cake (DS)
Trauma Center: New Blood (Wii)

Wednesday:
Undertow - $10 (Xbox Live Arcade)

Friday:
Black College Football Experience (PC)
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (PS2)
Petz: Dogz 2 (PS2)
Petz: Hamsterz 2 (DS)
The King of Fighters XI (PS2)
Undertow (Xbox 360)

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October’s American video game sales data from NPD is in, and with the exception of Halo 3 making Xbox 360 sales fly last month, it looks like the other 11 months this year will show a clear pattern: the Nintendo DS and Wii are beating the other systems by a landslide.

This year’s video game sales have already achieved the annual sales number for 2005… and the two biggest months are yet to come. We’ll see not only record-breaking revenues but record-breaking year-over-year growth when the final numbers are tallied.

Video game hardware overview:
1. Nintendo Wii — 519,000
2. Nintendo DS — 458,000
3. Xbox 360 — 366,000
4. PlayStation Portable — 286,000
5. PlayStation 2 — 184,000
6. PlayStation 3 — 121,000

Video game software overview top 20:
1. Halo 3 (Xbox 360) — 433,800
2. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock w/ guitar (Xbox 360) — 383, 200
3. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock w/ guitar (Wii) — 286,300
4. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock w/ guitar (PlayStation 2) — 271,100
5. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS) — 262,800
6. Wii Play w/ remote (Wii) — 239,700
7. The Orange Box (Xbox 360) — 238,400
8. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock w/o guitar (PlayStation 2) — 231,700
9. FIFA Soccer 08 (PlayStation 2) — 129,700
10. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day (Nintendo DS) — 116,900

While October’s 433,800 Halo 3 sales are nothing compared to September’s 3.3 million, nearly half a million more is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, Halo 3’s cumulative sales currently stand at 3.7 million, which outpaces the combined sales of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl at 3.6 million. The (Half-Life 2) Orange Box turned in at a disappointing 7th place in the software top ten, while Ratchet & Clank Future didn’t show up at all, despite having two weeks on shelves, reports 1UP.

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