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    Analysts predict over ten million sales for MotionPlus

    May 13, 2009 - 10:10am

    Both Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter and EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich expect the Wii MotionPlus peripheral to achieve sales of around ten million units in the US and Europe. The two just disagree on how long it will take. Pachter believes that the sales will happen early on, driven by bundles of early MotionPlus compatible software: "I think around 20 percent of Wii owners in the US and Europe will have bought Wii Sports Resort, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 or EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis," Pachter told Edge, "so that's around eight million." He added, "I think another two million will buy MotionPlus with new consoles."Divnich thinks three million units will sell through this holiday season, but it will take an additional year to achieve the ten-million-plus level of sales. "For the Wii MotionPlus, we currently expect the install base to reach over 11 million units by the end of Nintendo's next fiscal year in March 2011, a 15 percent penetration."Both analysts think Red Steel 2 is a risk that could pay off for Ubisoft. "Red Steel 2 may come along at precisely the right time, around when people are ready for another [MotionPlus] game," Pachter said. "The risk is really more a function of competition, compounded by the risk that Ubisoft could make a bad game." Both analysts believe that Red Steel 2 will be bundled with a MotionPlus.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Square Enix pulls the trigger on Chrono Trigger fan projects

    May 13, 2009 - 12:15am

    Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes was to be an original sequel to Chrono Trigger, created by a team of fans using Chrono Trigger sprites. We say was, because on the 8th, just weeks away from the game's scheduled release date, Square Enix sent the team a frightening cease-and-desist letter (PDF) ordering the project to be halted and all known copies to be destroyed.Square Enix also sent letters to other fan projects, including the Chrono Compendium, which responded by taking down all pages and forums related to rom-hacking projects. "We do not accept the validity of Square Enix's claims," Chrono Compendium's ZeaLitY said, "nor the legal rationale underpinning their position. Nonetheless, we are complying with their demands so as to avoid the expenses and burdens of litigation, because, frankly, they can afford a frivolous lawsuit more than we can." After the break, footage of the promising, but now dead, Crimson Echoes, made by people who, until last week, liked Chrono Trigger a lot.[Via Kombo; thanks, Booxatron!]

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    Mr. Wong's Laundromat provides online money laundering for GTA Chinatown Wars

    May 12, 2009 - 7:30pm

    Need any more proof that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is the best GTA game you're not playing? Rockstar has just announced the official opening of the Mr. Wong's Laundromat browser game, which allows players to earn in-game money and unlockable costumes that can be sent to the DS cartridge.Once you've logged in to the Rockstar Social Club and linked your game to the service, you can start playing the web game, earning "up to $10,000 per day working for Mr Wong, a local Chinatown 'businessman' who's helped more than his fair share of cash trickle seamlessly and undetected through the streets of Liberty City over the years." The game itself is pretty simple -- just catch money and jewelry as it tumbles out of washing machines, and dump it into Mr. Wong's van. It's an enjoyable diversion on its own, especially with included leaderboards. But as an online supplement to the DS game, it's even more interesting! Too bad about the "If it ain't Wong, it ain't white" slogan, which is not only potentially offensive, but a near-complete ripoff of something that was already taken off the market for being offensive.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    CoroCoro reveals Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver deets, Nintendo files US trademarks

    May 12, 2009 - 4:40pm


    When Nintendo announced Pokémon Gold Heart and Soul Silver remakes, it was only a few days after that we caught a glimpse of some gameplay. Of course, the gameplay video didn't reveal anything on the game other than the ability to walk around, but the latest issue of CoroCoro (transcribed by the fine folks at GAF) in Japan thankfully tells us a bit more.First of all, each title finally has a firm release date: September 11. On July 20, Japanese gamers will be able to preorder each game, which feature a few changes from the classics they are derived from. For one, you'll have the ability to choose between a female and male trainer now, and it's hinted that you'll even get to ride around on a skateboard. On top of that, your Pokegear seems to have received an update (including a camera), and a few familiar Pokemon (and places) have received a refresh, naturally. The games are even going to feature expanded Wi-Fi settings, building on what was established with Diamond and Pearl, and Platinum.And all of you North American trainers, know that Nintendo is planning to bring both Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver your way. Sure, you probably had little doubt in your mind, considering how much Nintendo loves money, but just to help assuage any fears you may have, we present some US trademarks Nintendo filed, courtesy of Siliconera. Both Pokemon Heart Gold and Pokemon Soul Silver are listed, so turn your cap backwards and get ready to catch 'em all ... at an unconfirmed later date.Source - US patentsSource - Details from CoroCoro magazine [Via Nintendo Everything]Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Nintendo celebrates one year of WiiWare

    May 12, 2009 - 3:45pm

    On May 12 of last year, Nintendo of America launched the WiiWare download service with Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, LostWinds, Defend Your Castle, Pop, VIP Casino: Blackjack, and TV Show King. Today, on the one-year anniversary of that launch, Nintendo sent out a video featuring the highlights of the service's 81-game lineup.For all the complaining Nintendo fans do about WiiWare, and Nintendo system releases in general, all the games presented in this video make for a pretty strong year of releases. In the press release about the anniversary, Nintendo gave us reasons to be excited about the next year of WiiWare, including Cave Story, Icarian: Kindred Spirits, Super Meat Boy, Cave Story, Bit.Trip: CORE, Cave Story, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years and CAVE STORY.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Majesco whipping up two more Jillian Michaels fitness games

    May 12, 2009 - 2:30pm


    Apparently, Mrs. Michaels' last Ultimatum wasn't ultimate enough -- a recent Majesco press release dropped an announcement that the Biggest Loser star would be featured in two new games this year: Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2010 and Jillian Michaels' Pocket Trainer 2010. Man, we don't want to be rude or anything, but this couldn't have come at a better time. Our pockets have seriously let themselves go.Both games are set to drop this fall, and will likely each be purchased 500,000 times.Permalink | Email this | Comments

    McCartney's replica Rock Band bass looks awesome, backwards

    May 12, 2009 - 1:25pm


    Regardless of your feelings towards the mop-topped British rock sensation upon which the next Rock Band game is based, you have to admit -- The Beatles had them some lovely instruments. Two of these six-strings, Lennon and Harrison's Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet, will be coming as $99 add-ons to The Beatles: Rock Band -- however, a third replica guitar will be coming in the game's Limited Edition Premium Bundle: Paul McCartney's Höfner bass guitar, pictured above.According to a recent Harmonix press release, this wireless periph will work with all versions of Rock Band. It certainly looks gorgeous, but as our well-read colleagues at Engadget point out, this Höfner controller was designed for a right-handed player. McCartney, of course, was a Southpaw. Man, the game isn't even out yet, and already Harmonix is taking outrageous liberties with history. Unbelievable.[Thanks, MarkHawk!]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    VC/WiiWare Tuesday: Contra and more

    May 12, 2009 - 12:15pm

    Today's Virtual Console and WiiWare offerings in Japan are shockingly good. So good that if a release week like this happened outside of Japan even once every six months or so, nobody would complain about Nintendo's downloads. Even if we ignore the three WiiWare games that are already out in North America, it's wall-to-wall quality.Well, we're kind of assuming that Contra Rebirth is quality. Even if it's terrible, we know we're in for a $10 download of an original Contra game when it shows up here. We know that the WiiWare Art Style games are fantastic, because we've been playing them since last year.On Virtual Console, the PC Engine CD-ROM version of SimEarth and the arcade release of the brutal Tower of Druaga pale before Downtown Special, a Japan-only sequel to River City Ransom starring Kunio and friends as samurai. Virtual Console:

    WiiWare:

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    Rock Band Country Track Pack coming July 21

    May 12, 2009 - 11:40am


    We know that many of you will roll your eyes and scroll right along when we tell you that EA/MTV/Harmonix has just announced the stand-alone Rock Band Country Track Pack coming to 360, PS3, PS2 and Wii on July 21. That's fine, we understand. Even if you have a passing interest, you'll be able to check them all out when they eventually make their way to the Rock Band Music Store.But before you go, you should know that the $30 pack of 21 songs includes one of the greatest recordings of all time, Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler." Sure, there are other songs on there, we've even put a list of the first few after the break. But if you boot up "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" before "The Gambler," we're going to cut off Travis Tritt's mullet and feed it to you.

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    EA officially details Spore Hero, Spore Hero Arena

    May 12, 2009 - 11:15am

    Electronic Arts has elaborated on what playing Spore will be like once the primordial goo takes shape on the Wii and DS later this year. The Wii's motion-sensitive Spore Hero will play out as a story-based action game, as players save their planet from being blown to bits while collecting more than 250 creature parts. EA also notes that this take on 2008's evolutionary experiment will feature a new version of Spore Creature Creator, one that's been "enhanced" for the Wii. We expect minigames are somehow involved.For would-be gods on the go, Spore Hero Arena instead will focus more on combat. Here, creatures travel between planets to slug it out to become the champ and collect spoils, which, in this case, are special abilities to give a creature enough of an added boost and inflated ego to take on the next rival evolutionary misfit. Spore Hero Arena will also support local multiplayer battles for up to three players, or allow two players' creations to go up against each other over Wi-Fi. Neither Spore Hero nor Spore Hero Arena have been given an exact release date yet, with both expected to evolve onto store shelves sometime this fall.

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