nylatenite.com

This week's release list may as well be empty, because there's not a title really worth having on it. It seems that Bold Games, an apparent maker of Wii shovelware, is filling in the post holiday lull with a sextet of titles that probably would not exist if not for the fact that Nintendo no longer quality tests third party software.

As a result, while there are releases this week, none of them get the coveted "pick of the week" - you're really better off picking up a better title at one of the millions of sales out there right now or just playing some of the games you have at home that you might not have gotten around to yet. Hell, it's so bad there aren't even any highlights this week.

Director Latenite says: "Winners don't play sholvelware." (anyone who stepped into an arcade in the late 80's/early 90's understands the joke, the rest of you are probably wondering what exactly an arcade is)

Be sure to check out the below list for all the titles you should avoid at retail this week.

• Kawasaki Quad Bikes (WII) - 1/1/2008
• Monster Trux Offroad (WII) - 1/3/2008
• Classic British Motor Racing (WII) - 1/3/2008
• Rig Racer 2 (WII) - 1/3/2008
• Kidz Sports: Basketball (WII) - 1/3/2008
• Myth Makers: Orbs of Doom (WII) - 1/3/2008

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

Hey gang, it’s time for another edition of Lazy Day Trailers - today we’ve got some gameplay footage from Street Fighter IV. While I know it’s early in the game’s development, there’s just something that feels "wrong" about how the game looks. While I have every confidence that Capcom isn’t going to let the game be anything other than stellar, it’s enough for me to start keeping tabs on the title.

Check it out below courtesy of GameTrailers.com;

No information regarding a release date or platform availability for Street Fighter IV has been made at this time.

• Street Fighter IV - Official website
• Capcom - Official company website
• Street Fighter IV Gameplay - GameTrailers

You read that right folks, 1.13 million dollars. This year's Child's Play Charity drive has brought in $1,135,000 in toys, books, games and cash for children's hospitals around the world. That is downright amazing - and heart warming.

While the drive is now wrapping up for the year (there should be one last update to the total donations some time in January), there is always time to make a donation - many of the hospitals listed will continue to keep their wish lists updated throughout the year. The holidays may be just about over, but there are still so many kids out there who could use a smile or ten.

"I just got the final amount for Child's Play, which is… substantial: $1,135,000 in toys and cash. I said it was the final amount, but what we've seen in previous years is that this "final amount" climbs considerably after the event is finished. Money comes in from local events or community sites. For some people, the end of the event is an impetus to give. The lists typically stay up, as does the PayPal, and we see people choosing items in July. So as large as that sum is up there, it's not complete. Recall that this million is heaped upon the other millions we have raised, year over year, creating from nothing an engine of perpetual comfort that has generated $3,324,000 to date. We make Santa Claus a real person with Child's Play, that is our holy work, and each time we perform this charitable ritual he is real for a longer and longer duration." - Jerry "Tycho Brahe" Holkins

Whenever I see the numbers Child's Play generates, I'm proud to have played any kind of a role in this whole endeavor (No, I'm not egotistical enough to think that this site generates any kind of a spur in donations for Child's Play, I just refer to my own donations) - sure, each person may not be able to make a huge difference, but together, there's no limit to what we can accomplish.

So to those of you who have donated this year, or at any other time in the charity's history, take a bow - and the next time someone tells you that gamers are just anti-social, maladjusted slackers, give them 3,324,000 reasons to think again. While you're at it, be sure to give then the Child's Play Charity website address too - maybe next year's total can be even higher.

•  Child's Play Charity - Official website

So this post is a day late, sue me. Because of the holidays and such, it should have been expected… besides, it's not like you're missing all that much…

Yup, if you thought that there'd be something new in the Xbox Live Arcade this week to buy with those points someone gave you for the holidays, you were probably wrong. What we've got this week is Spongebob Squarepants Underpants Slam! - a game that is geared towards kids, and probably is going to be about as entertaining as playing with a box of tissue paper. Maybe it's just me, but any game with a title that sounds like the main character is crapping in their pants is just not going to be high on my list of future purchases. (I'll admit it - I was so non-thrilled about this one, I even forgot it was coming out yesterday)

While I'm really not sure what the story behind this one is, it appears to be a side scrolling platformer, so the kids may indeed like it. As always, a demo is available, so be sure to try it out before shelling out the required 800 points ($10) to purchase it.

Title: Spongebob Squarepants Underpants Slam!
Developer: Blitz Games
Publisher: THQ
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 12/26/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-4
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief & Mild Cartoon Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"SpongeBob SquarePants Underpants Slam! is a fast-paced, side-scrolling multiplayer slapstick collect 'em-up, set deep in the ocean. An incredibly powerful storm current has disrupted a Royal Laundry shipment of the undergarments of Neptune, Lord of the Sea, and has spread his unmentionables across the bottom of the ocean. Neptune now calls upon all the commonfish to collect his lost undergarments, and fix this "delicate" situation. He's offered a bounteous reward to the sea creature who collects the most bloomers!

• All the popular characters: Play as all your favorite characters from the animated series, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Eugene Krabs, Sandy Cheeks, and Sheldon Plankton.
• Visit familiar environs: Search the kitchens of the Krusty Krab, visit the Flying Dutchman's ship, and explore the depths of the all-new Armoury of Atlantis for rare pairs of pants.
• Wild arcade action: It's every sea creature for him or herself! Use your character's slapstick moves to knock down and slow your opponents, and gain special powers from pickups that allow you to move at super speed, hit twice as hard, or even steal pants from other players!
• Single player modes: Take on the tricky Time Attack Mode where beating the clock means everything, or engage in the full Quest Mode, where you must collect 99 pairs of Neptune's underpants to win the game. 
• Multiplayer game modes: Play Tag Mode, and avoid being "it" at Bikini Bottom. Play with a friend offline or take it online to Xbox LIVE® Arcade with up to four players" - Xbox.com

As for last week's Live Arcade titles, due to the issues surrounding it's release, I never got a chance to try Sensible World of Soccer, so you're on your own for that one. Tempest, on the other hand, suffers from the same fate as all the other "updated" Atari classics - the updated graphics actually hurt the game. As with Asteroids, the damn explosions in the "enhanced" Tempest just ruin the experience by making things difficult to see. How anyone could think these versions are improved is just beyond me. Look, If you love Tempest, go right ahead and pick it up (I did) - but don't expect to be wowed by the updated version of the game.

That's right gang, it's once again time to check in on how this year's Child's Play Charity drive is doing. I'm thrilled to announce that as of December 21st, almost one million dollars has been donated by gamers just like you. The official tally stands at $974,000 with still some time to go. Now, I'm sure that it's already passed the one million mark by now, but if you haven't donated yet, would you want to be the one responsible if it doesn't get there? Hmmmm?

I thought not. That's why there's still time to get in on the action - the holidays may have passed, but there are still sick kids out there. That said, as soon as you get up for some more holiday leftovers, why not grab your credit card on the way back and make a donation. While I can't promise anything, if you do, maybe the Big Daddies will forgive you for harvesting Little Sisters… or maybe they'll still punch you right in the head. 

• Child's Play Charity - Official website

Well, it's time for another installment of "This Week's Releases" - this week we've got… well, we've got nothing. Zippo. Nada. Zilch. Zero. The great void. That's right, there's not a single title listed as hitting retail this week - not even a piece of PC shovelware.

My advice to you is to spend some time catching up on all those releases from the last 3 months. Enjoy!!!

Just an update to a previous story - According to Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb, the problems with Sensible World of Soccer have been corrected and the game is once again available for purchase via the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Those of you who purchased the problematic version of the game should delete it from your hard drive and download the corrected version (at no additional charge).

• Sensible World of Soccer - Xbox Live Arcade
• Sensible World of Soccer now available for download - Major Nelson

A demo of Ubisoft's Dark Messiah: Might & Magic Elements for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all regions except Japan via the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Please note: As of late November, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.

A demo of Midway’s Blacksite: Area 51 for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 932MB.

• Blacksite: Area 51 - Official website

No, it’s not the apocalypse, though that may have indeed been a pig flying past your window yesterday afternoon. 3D Realms has released the first teaser trailer for… Duke Nukem Forever. Yup, after 10+ years in development, we’re finally getting a teaser trailer.

It’s not something to get overly excited about, as there isn’t much to see as far as actual gameplay footage goes, but the way I figure it, any big announcement about the most famous piece of vaporware in gaming deserves a post. Hell, what’s next - might Phantom Entertainment actually ship a Lapboard or two?

Check it out below courtesy of GameTrailers.com;

Duke Nukem Forever is slated to ship … sometime this century?

• 3D Realms - Company website
• Duke Nukem Forever - Official website
• Duke Nukem Forever - Teaser - GameTrailers

Sony has made the latest update to the PlayStation 3's system software (v2.10) available for download via the PlayStation Network and PlayStation.com.

The update adds a few new nice features including voice masking, DiVX and WMV support and Picture in Picture (PiP) support for BluRay discs that support the feature. Check out the full patch message below for details;

Voice Changer

• The Voice Changer feature has been added to voice / video chat. > See details.

Music

• You can now select [Type 3] as an option under [Settings] > [Music Settings] > [Bitmapping]. > See details.
• A new pattern has been added for the visual player. > See details.

Video

• DivX and VC-1 (WMV) have been added to the types of files that can be played. *1
• Blu-ray Disc Profile 1.1 is now supported. *2
• [BD Data Utility] has been added. *3

*1 To play VC-1 (WMV) format files, you must go to  (Settings) >  (System Settings) and set [Enable WMA Playback].

Copyright-protected files or files that were encoded by using DivX 3.11 cannot be played.

Files that are 2GB or more cannot be played.

*2 You can now use the "Picture in Picture" feature that enables playback of two videos at the same time with some Profile 1.1-compatible Blu-ray Discs. Features available vary depending on the disc.

*3 Management data that is used by the Blu-ray Disc is saved here. - PlayStation Network Update 2.10

For further information or to obtain the update via the internet, check out the link below.

• System Software Update (2.10) - PlayStation.com

Just a quick note here for any of you who may have logged into Xbox Live looking for Sensible World of Soccer - Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb has advised that due to some technical problems with the game, SWOS has been pulled from the Marketplace temporarily. While the Major advised that everyone is working around the clock to get things right, there is currently no ETA for it's return. 

"This game has been pulled. I’ll post an update when it is available again. In the meantime, if you downloaded this busted version, please delete it and when the new one is available you’ll be able to downloaded it again (at no charge if you purchased it.) While you do that, I’ll go yell at some folks for letting this happen. Apologies and the moment the proper version is available I’ll update this post.

Update: The team is hard at work troubleshooting the problem, but it will take some time. Thanks for your patience.

Update: Ok folks, I am being told that I won't have another update until tomorrow (12/20) mid-day (PT). The teams are working through the night and doing everything they can to get this released as quickly as possible." - Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb, Xbox Live director of programming

On a final note, if you purchased the game before it was pulled, there is no need to stress. As you can see above, according to Major Nelson, you will be able to re-download the fixed version of the game free of charge once it returns.

• Sensible World of Soccer - Xbox Live Arcade
• Arcade: Sensible World of Soccer (Updated) - Major Nelson

Xbox Live Arcade swings for the fences this week as two highly anticipated titles make their way to the Xbox Live Marketplace. It's a double feature of epic proportions as both Tempest and Sensible World of Soccer prepare to thrill (and possibly disappoint) gamers around the world.

First up, we'll talk about Atari's Tempest. If I recall correctly, Tempest was born of a nightmare designer David Theurer had one night and turned out to be a dream come true for arcade players everywhere. The game's premise is fairly simple - you control a ship that travels along the edge of various segmented 3D geometric configurations. Enemies appear at the far end of each configuration and travel towards your ship at the top - naturally, your job is to stop them before they get there or avoid them. As with most games from the era, you also have a limited supply of smart bombs for when things get a little too hectic.

Fast, addictive gameplay is what Tempest is all about - and I really hope that Stainless Games doesn't do their usual botch job on the "enhanced version" of this one. Tempest deserves better - as do most of the classic Atari XBLA games.

Title: Tempest
Developer: Stainless Games
Publisher: Atari
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 12/19/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E - (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Tempest® is one of the most well-known arcade games of all time, a true classic in the realm of video games. This intense shooter requires lots of skill and lightning-quick reflexes. Use unlimited firepower to shoot and destroy enemies in a large geometric battlefield.

Download the full version to play this classic arcade game in its original form and completely re-stylized versions featuring evolved graphics and newly introduced Throttle Monkey™ mode.

• Next-gen presentation: The game supports 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, including HDTV, with full-screen anti-aliasing and Dolby Digital surround sound.
• Arcade integration: Check top scores on the Leaderboards and master 12 challenging Achievements." - Xbox.com

Of course, our friends from across the ocean are a bit more thrilled about the second of this week's Live Arcade releases - Sensible World of Soccer. Now while I certainly wonder how it is that gamers from countries where soccer is known as football (something that seems to be a bit of a sore point too, mind you) would embrace a game that called itself soccer, there really doesn't seem to be any question that swos has a serious following. I don't doubt that Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb is thrilled to be getting this one into the Arcade so he can stop hearing about it from fans in the comments section of every new XBLA announcement.

Needless to say, this one is a soccer game (that's right - it's soccer!) - and supposedly a really good classic version of it. I've never played swos and It may not be for everyone, but it's reputation alone says you should at least give the demo a try.

Title: Sensible World of Soccer
Developer: Kuju Sheffield
Publisher: Codemasters Online
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 12/19/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E - (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Sensible World of Soccer™ is the classic nineties soccer game reborn with enhanced graphics! Play against your friends online in this fantastic pick up and play soccer extravaganza. Experience all the excitement of a full season or enter into a quick game against your friends.

Want to be more hands-on? Manage your team over a full season with a fully immersive tactics editor to put yourself in control on the way to the title.

• Online play: Take on your friends online in this fun, fast-paced soccer game.
• Updated for Xbox LIVE Arcade: Play a fully updated Arcade version of this classic game.
• Classic and Enhanced modes: Play online with the graphics you remember, or with the new enhanced HD visuals.
• Retro experience: Utilizing the original '96/'97 code, widely recognized to be the best incarnation of the SWOS series, we are able to deliver an authentic, retro playing experience.
• Influential game: SWOS is one of the ten most influential games of all time. Play the only version that lets you experience both classic SWOS and modern enhanced SWOS." - Xbox.com

As for last week's Live Arcade titles, there's not much to say. I expected big things from Arkadian Warriors, but the game (or at least the demo) just never seemed to deliver. While Arkadian Warriors does indeed play quite a bit like Diablo, it never really captures the same feel. I don't know if it's the cutesy characters, the easy battles or just the way the game presents itself (it often comes across with a very generic RPG vibe), but the game never truly grabbed my attention. I certainly wouldn't call it a bad game, and much like Exit, I do plan on going back and seeing if maybe I'd like it a little more if I was in a different mood. Arkadian Warriors is certainly one you'll need to try for yourself.

The other new Xbox Live Arcade entrant last week was GripShift, a game that I still have not had the opportunity to really sit down and play - probably because of the fact that I wasn't exactly thrilled with I tried it for the PlayStation 3. I'm going to suggest you try this one first as well - and really, that is always the best advice for Xbox Live Arcade titles - that's why the demos are there.

Well, it was a slow news day, so you get a video courtesy of the good folks over at GameTrailers.com. Don’t you feel all special now? Admit it, you’re feeling all warm and fuzzy now, aren’t you?

What I’ve got for you today is a look at Sony’s Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - the latest in the company’s venerable racing franchise. What you’re about to watch is some in-game footage of a race through city streets. I’d say it was a thrilling run, but the fact that the driver can’t seem to avoid smashing into things kind of takes away from the whole presentation. Still, this video is about getting to see the level of detail of your surroundings - so maybe I should be spending our time looking around instead of critiquing driving skills.

Anyway, check out the video below - I’m sure you’ll agree that the game is looking good - and the fact that Sony has added an in-car mode has certainly got me excited about this one.

As I’m sure you well know, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will be a PlayStation 3 exclusive.

• Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - Official website
• Gran Turismo 5 Prologue: City Streets Gameplay - GameTrailers

Wow, this week's list is about as short as they come - luckily for us there are at least a few titles worth talking about. Center stage in our little drama is this week's pick of the week - NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams.

Now before you take that as a vote of confidence, please be aware that I give Journey of Dreams this distinction solely due to NiGHTS: Into Dreams, the original Sega Saturn title Journey serves as a sequel to. Given Sega's track-record with their franchises of late, and the ever increasing amount of shovelware on the Wii, I really have a bad feeling that this second glimpse into the world of NiGHTS could well be out last. Still, there have been a few positive early reviews of the game, so we can always hope, right?

Par for the end-of-year course, this week's highlight section is going to be a little sparse. Let's take a look;

• NeoGeo Battle Coliseum (PS2)
  • SNK Playmore mixes all of it's franchise characters into one big tag-team fighting game. While I love the King of Fighters series (when it's in 2D), I just don't seem to be feeling this one. I'm not sure why that is either - maybe it's just the way the last few 2D fighters to hit the home systems have been a little lacking.
• NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (WII)
• I mentioned it before, but it bears repeating. While I really do hope this one honors it's Saturn predecessor, I'm not holding out much hope. (Ok, I'm lying - I am really hoping it turns out well - I'm just bracing myself for the very real possibility of suckage)
• Rock Band (PS2)
• Yes, Rock Band finally comes to the PlayStation 2, but in a "game only" form. Those of you looking for the full instrument bundle will have to wait for it's release later this month - which is why this one didn't get the coveted "Game of the Week" award.

Be sure to check out the below list for all the titles you can expect to find at retail this week.

• Atari Classics Evolved (PSP) - 12/19/2007
• Carrier Strike Force (PC) - 12/18/2007
• Daisenryaku Exceed (PS2) - 12/18/2007
• Elements of Destruction (DS) - 12/18/2007
• Indianapolis 500: Legends (DS) - 12/20/2007
• Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge (PSP) - 12/19/2007
• Luxor 2 (DS) - 12/19/2007
• MX vs ATV: Untamed (360) - 12/18/2007
• MX vs ATV: Untamed (DS) - 12/18/2007
• MX vs ATV: Untamed (PS2) - 12/18/2007
• MX vs ATV: Untamed (PS3) - 12/18/2007
• MX vs ATV: Untamed (PSP) - 12/18/2007
• NeoGeo Battle Coliseum (PS2) - 12/18/2007
• NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (WII) - 12/19/2007
• Quest Pack (PC) - 12/18/2007
• Rig Racer 2 (WII) - 12/20/2007
• Rock Band (Game Only) (PS2) - 12/19/2007
• Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (DS) - 12/18/2007

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

Well gang, it's time to once again check in on how things are going with Penny Arcade's 2007 Child's Play Charity drive. Last week's Child's Play Charity Dinner Auction brought in over $225,000 bringing the total donations to over $850,000. Wow - think about that for a second… $850,000 donated to sick children… $850,000.

You can still be a part of that total, you know. I hate to always sound preachy when it comes to Child's Play, but it really is a win-win situation. Sick children all over the world get things to help take their minds off of the situations they're in and gamers who donate get to not only feel great about helping achieve that goal, but also help to kill the stereotype that gamers are a bunch of ultra-violent, anti-social slackers. Where else can you achieve three things with one donation?

What I'm saying is even if you haven't donated yet, there's still time to get in on this year's charity drive. Head over to the Child's Play website and get with the giving! (Maybe you'll even be forgiven for laying claymores everywhere in Call of Duty 4 - it's a long shot, but who knows?!)

• Child's Play Charity - Official website
• The Dinner - Penny Arcade
• Child's Play Charity Kicks Off 2007 Drive - nylatenite.com 

A demo of Electronic Arts’ Burnout Paradise for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 765MB.

• Burnout Paradise - Official website

A demo of Electronic Arts’ Burnout Paradise for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all regions except Asia via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 835.53MB.

Please note: As of late November, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.

• Burnout Paradise - Official website

Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays makes it's return following a one week hiatus with a double feature of titles. This week's duo of Arkadian Warriors and GripShift hope to break out of the slump the Live Arcade has been seeing of late by offering fast paced arcade-style play with a mix of both online and offline play. Whether they succeed or not still remains to be seen.

The first title we'll look at it is Wanako Games' Arkadian Warriors - a title that, at least at first glance, seems to be an action RPG very much along the lines of Diablo. As you can imagine, if done right, that will easily move Arkadian Warriors to the top of many an Xbox Live Arcade want list. The game features three character classes (Soldier, Archer and Sorceress), each of which apparently had the ability to shapeshift into a specific creature (Phoenix, Lion or Dragon) to add some variety to the combat.

If all goes well with the gameplay, this one could easily be worth the 800 points ($10) it's going for in the Live Marketplace - especially when you factor in the random dungeon generator described in the game's feature list. I'll be sure to talk more about this one in next week's Live Arcade thread to let you know how it all turned out. As always, a demo of the game will be available in the marketplace so you can try it before you make a purchase decision.

Title: Arkadian Warriors
Developer: Wanako Games
Publisher: Sierra Online
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 12/12/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E10 - (Everyone 10+) - Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Define your legacy. Awaken your inner beast. Fight as one of the three powerful warriors of Artemis as you confront Gorgon herself in Arkadian Warriors. Embark on a trek of epic proportions, traverse treacherous dungeons, fight off hordes of hideous enemies, and take on heinously powerful bosses. You must save the goddess Artemis and return the mythical land of Arkadia to the people. Warriors … unite and defend!

• Three mighty warriors: Choose to play as a Soldier, Archer, or Sorceress To save the land of Arkadia.
• Unique abilities: Each warrior has unique fighting and shape-shifting abilities. Turn into a Phoenix, Lion, or Dragon to increase your power and crush your foes.
• Character development: Build up your warrior's skills and inventory along the way with more powerful magic, deadlier weapons, and stronger defensive units.
• Unique dungeon generator: Never battle enemies in the same dungeon twice.
• Intense multiplayer co-op action: Play side-by-side with a friend, or take the battle online and conquer Gorgon in co-op multiplayer." - Xbox.com

Next up, we've got GripShift from Sidhe Interactive. PlayStation 3 owners should be familiar with this game, as it's been on sale in the PlayStation Store for quite some time. It's an arcade style stunt racer (so think a lot of loops and physics defying turns) that, if memory serves me correctly, didn't exactly thrill me on the PS3 due to somewhat loose controls. I'd definitely recommend trying the demo before picking this one up for 800 points ($10).

Title: GripShift
Developer: Sidhe Interactive
Publisher: Sidhe Interactive
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 12/12/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1 / 2-4 Online
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E10 - (Everyone 10+) - Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"GripShift® combines high-flying platform gaming with extreme stunt driving action. Test your reflexes and bend your brain as you stunt your way through 120 twisting Challenge Mode levels across four uniquely themed worlds. 

Collect power-ups, avoid traps, and beat the clock as you compete for top leaderboard slots in single player mode, or deploy an arsenal of funky weapons and go head-to-head across 25 Race Mode tracks and 20 Deathmatch arenas in online multiplayer. Choose your driver, unlock faster vehicles, and customize your ride with new skins. GripShift is a gravity-defying thrill ride every racing fan must experience!

• Challenge: Race through 120 single-player Challenge Mode levels.
• Race: Put the pedal to the metal for 25 rubber-burning Race Mode tracks.
• Deathmatch: Fight for survival in 20 deadly Deathmatch arenas.
• Multiplayer: Jump into Xbox LIVE® online multiplayer and leaderboard." - Xbox.com

As for the last XBLA release, Asteroids/Asteroids Deluxe, I seem to recall I worried that once again, the "updated" version of the game offered in the download would suffer from poor design, and sure enough Atari managed to do screw things up quite nicely once more.

While the core gameplay is still solid in the classic versions (though I personally feel that the emulation isn't quite spot-on), It's the re-imagined version of the game that's the train wreck here. For some unknown reason, someone decided to make the explosions so colorful and large that you cannot even easily see where parts of each asteroid are going following a hit. This problem is inexcusable from a gameplay standpoint and was completely avoidable from a design standpoint. It really feels as if someone just took what made Asteroids so much fun and just tossed it right out the window. If you want a high-def Asteroids-type experience (and happen to have a PlayStation 3), pick up Super Stardust HD in the PlayStation Store. It's worlds above this re-constituted mess.

It's time for us to check back in on how things are progressing with this year's Child's Play Charity drive, and based on both the information available at the Child's Play website and the large list of events still upcoming, things are looking pretty good once again. As of today, this year's donations have exceeded $600,000 in toys, books and cash. That is indeed a lot of smiling children - all of you who have donated so far, please take a bow.  

While $600,000 may sound great, the drive isn't over by a long shot. Besides the normal donations we can expect to see being made over the next few weeks, there's still today's Child's Play Charity Dinner Auction in Seattle as well as the Funde Razor events in Denver and New York City on Wednesday.

Yes, there's still plenty of time left to donate - and plenty of ways to make a difference - so if you haven't already donated, or have but want to give some more, please do - it's for a great cause. 

• Child's Play Charity - Official website
• Child's Play Charity Dinner Auction - Child's Play
• Funde Razor - Official website
• Child's Play Charity Kicks Off 2007 Drive - nylatenite.com

Things are looking a little brighter this week - especially if you're a PlayStation 3 owner. Yes, the PS3 finally gets a leg up on the Xbox 360 as Unreal Tournament III comes to the console well ahead of the 360 port - with mouse and keyboard support no less!

It's for that very reason that Unreal Tournament III gets tagged as my game of the week - it's about time someone realized that it's not the world's greatest sin if a console game accepts mouse and keyboard input. In fact, it could actually open doors to some genres finally finding a place on the home systems.

Once again, this week's highlight section is going to be a little sparse. Let's take a look;

• Madden NFL 08 En Espanol (360 / PS2)
  • Okay, so this one isn't entirely new - it's just Madden '08 in Spanish - but I'm sure there are a ton of gamers out there who have hoped that the game would be made in their native language, and since it's Madden, it's a highlight of the week.
• The Orange Box (PS3)
• Valve's big combo pack comes to the PlayStation 3 and the legend of the Weighted Companion Cube grows. Please note: advanced word on this port is that there were some serious frame rate issues in the review copies sent out. You have been warned. (The Orange Box includes Half Life 2, Half Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress and, of course, Portal)
• Unreal Tournament III (PS3)
• Epic Games' premiere first person shooter returns with all the carnage, gore and mayhem we've come to expect from the tournament - though many players may be saddened to hear that the Onslaught game type has been dropped from the series (as have several other modes).

Be sure to check out the below list for all the titles you can expect to find at retail this week.

• BlackSite: Area 51 (PS3) - 12/11/2007
• Daisenryaku Exceed (PS2) - 12/12/2007
• Golden Compass (PC) - 12/15/2007
• Indy 500 Legends (WII) - 12/15/2007
• Kawasaki Quad Bikes (WII) - 12/15/2007
• Kidz Sports: Basketball (WII) - 12/15/2007
• Left Behind: Eternal Forces (Expansion Pack) (PC) - 12/12/2007
• Luxor 2 (DS) - 12/12/2007
• Madden NFL 08 En Espanol (360) - 12/12/2007
• Madden NFL 08 En Espanol (PS2) - 12/12/2007
• Mythmakers: Orbs of Doom (WII) - 12/15/2007
• NCAA March Madness 2008 (360) - 12/12/2007
• NCAA March Madness 2008 (PS2) - 12/12/2007
• NCAA March Madness 2008 (PS3) - 12/12/2007
• NeoGeo Battle Coliseum (PS2) - 12/12/2007
• Showtime Boxing (WII) - 12/12/2007
• Super Swing Golf Season 2 (WII) - 12/12/2007
• The Lost Crown (PC) - 12/11/2007
• The Orange Box (PS3) - 12/12/2007
• Universe at War: Earth Assault (PC) - 12/11/2007
• Unreal Tournament III (PS3) - 12/11/2007
• Warriors of the Lost Empire (PSP) - 12/11/2007

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

A multiplayer demo of Sierra’s Timeshift for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 758MB.

• Timeshift - Official website

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard anything significant regarding Grand Theft Auto IV from our friends at Rockstar Games, but that all is about to change. Rockstar has released the latest trailer for GTA IV, and based on what I’ve seen, it looks like one of the things Rockstar did following the delay of the game was to scale the character models back quite a bit.

Now I know one of the rumored issues with GTA IV was that it wasn’t running smoothly, but I really didn’t expect the character models to be knocked back as far they apparently have been. There are some moments in there where I’d swear I was looking at a last-generation game. Thankfully, Liberty City still seems to be rendered beautifully - and more importantly, the story seems to be solid… though I certainly hope that the annoying cousin doesn’t play a huge role in the game.

Anyway, enough talk - I know what you’re here for… check out the video courtesy of GameTrailers.com below;

On a final note, is that not the most disturbing looking stripper silhouette you’ve ever seen in your life? *shudders*

• Grand Theft Auto IV - Official website
• Grand Theft Auto IV: Move Up, Ladies - GameTrailers.com

Just a quick note here for those of you with BioShock for either Windows or the Xbox 360 - an update for the game is now available via the Xbox Live Marketplace (Xbox 360 version) or your favorite file download site (Windows version).

This update not only fixes several issues with the game, including the game's "widescreen" issues (it will now play in true widescreen), but also adds new plasmids and tonics to further enhance the experience that is the City of Rapture. It's a free download, so be sure to check it out!

• BioShock - Official website
• The Cult of Rapture - 2KGames

A demo of Namco Bandai’s Culdcept SAGA for the Xbox 360 is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace in The United States and Canada. Approximate download size is 620.21MB.

Please note: As of yesterday, it appears that Microsoft is re-instituting the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo won't be available until sometime next week.Culdcept SAGA - Official product page

• Culdcept SAGA - Official product page
• FYI: Free Xbox Live Marketplace content and Silver accounts - Major Nelson

After months of build-up, Microsoft is finally ready to release the Xbox 360 Fall 2007 Dashboard Update. While the most anticipated features will certainly be the ability to buy downloadable versions of original Xbox games via the Xbox Live Marketplace and expanded support for video codecs (DivX Support included), there are a wealth of other little features in there that should further refine the 360's online experience.

"As promised, Microsoft is bringing some early gifts to your Xbox 360® just prior to the holiday season. Beginning at 0200 A.M. PST on December 4, 2007, the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update will be available for all connected Xbox 360 consoles free of charge, bringing an array of new features and enhancements to the leading gaming and entertainment system.

Among the key new enhancements are the previously announced Xbox Originals game download service, Family Timer parental control feature, and expanded social networking experiences. Xbox 360 owners can also look forward to enhanced navigation, profile, and video features and Xbox LIVE® Arcade Hits.

This free update will be digitally distributed over Xbox LIVE to the more than eight million Xbox LIVE members worldwide (Xbox LIVE Silver and Gold) with no disc or hard drive required. If you don't have an Xbox LIVE account, you can easily sign up for the free network by connecting your console to a broadband Internet connection. New features and enhancements include:

MORE DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

• Xbox Originals: With this new service, announced on November 13, you can download-to-own full original Xbox® games that were previously only available at retail. The digital shelves will always be stocked with classic titles, such as Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, Crimson Skies®: High Road to Revenge™, Halo®, Fable®, Fuzion Frenzy®, Psychonauts™, and more as the catalogue grows over time, at 1200 Microsoft Points per game.

• Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits: On Xbox LIVE Arcade, the Arcade Hits program kicks off as some of the best-selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games become available at permanently reduced prices, making it easier than ever for everyone to build a library of downloadable games! The first games to become Arcade Hits will be Bankshot Billiards 2™ and Lumines™ Live!, which will be available for 800 Microsoft Points each, and Marble Blast Ultra, Small Arms™, and Zuma® Deluxe, which will be available for 400 Microsoft Points each. With free trial downloads for every game and over 100 games to choose from, Xbox LIVE Arcade offers something for every member of the family.

NEW WAYS TO KEEP UP TO DATE AND CONNECTED

• Inside Xbox: A new direct feed brings current news straight from Xbox.com into the Xbox LIVE Dashboard providing an easy, predictable entry point where you can discover what's new in game releases, events, Xbox LIVE Marketplace offers, and lots more.

• Enhanced online profile: If you're interested in sharing a few more details about yourself you can go beyond your motto and further personalize your profile with an expanded bio. The extended bios will be visible to "Friends Only" or the entire Xbox LIVE community.

• Expanded Friends List access: A quick and easy way for gamers to expand their personal community on Xbox LIVE, members will be able to see the Friends Lists of other Xbox LIVE members, boosting their social networking experience on the service.

ENHANCED OVERALL EXPERIENCE AND CONTROL

• Enhanced Parental Controls: Family Timer, a strong and flexible new addition to the Xbox 360 Family Settings, enables parents to set the amount of time their Xbox 360 can be used on a per-day or per-week basis by their children or other members of the household.

• New video features: The convenience of full-screen movie previews and enhanced video codec support further expand the options when it comes to the Xbox 360 entertainment experience.

• Easy-to-use navigation features: With several noteworthy changes in the Xbox LIVE Dashboard, from the new Game Store button to the Video Store button to enhanced visuals and descriptions in the video library, Xbox LIVE members can find what they want, when they want it." - Xbox.com

Those of you wishing to check out the full list of features added in the Fall 2007 Dashboard Update should be sure to check out the "December 2007 System Update" post from Gamerscore Blog linked below. While we're at it, let's also all keep our fingers crossed that the update doesn't cause a mass-bricking.

• 2007 Fall Dashboard Update - Xbox.com
• December 2007 System Update - Gamerscore Blog

It's another week with just about nothing new to talk about - thankfully. I don't know about you, but I'm still buried under a pile of games from November, so this little break is more than welcome.

With so few titles , it's really hard to pick a game of the week, in fact, there was really only one choice this month - Sega's Universe at War: Earth Assault. I don't know much about the game beyond the fact that it's a sci-fi real time strategy game for Windows (Xbox 360 version coming soon) that has seen some pretty positive previews so far. There's a PC demo available for this one, so I'd definitely suggest trying it before you decide to lay out any cash.

Once again, this week's highlight section is going to be a little sparse. Let's take a look;

• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Shivering Isles (PS3)
  • The Shivering Isles expansion comes to the PlayStation 3 in a retail pack for those who picked up Oblivion on the system prior to the release of the Game of the Year Edition.
• Universe at War: Earth Assault (PC)
• Earth is invaded in this sci-fi real time strategy title from the good folks at Sega. Just once I'd like to see a RTS where we're the ones doing the invading.

Be sure to check out the below list for all the titles you can expect to find at retail this week.

• Alvin & the Chipmunks (DS) - 12/5/2007
• Alvin & the Chipmunks (PC) - 12/5/2007
• Alvin & the Chipmunks (PS2) - 12/5/2007
• Alvin & the Chipmunks (WII) - 12/5/2007
• American Girl: Julie Finds a Way (DS) - 12/4/2007
• Beowulf: The Game (PSP) - 12/5/2007
• Dance Dance Revolution Universe 2 (Bundle) (360) - 12/5/2007
• Deal or No Deal: Secret Vault Games (PC) - 12/7/2007
• Draglade (DS) - 12/5/2007
• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (WII) - 12/4/2007
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Shivering Isles (PS3) - 12/9/2007
• Godzilla Unleashed (WII) - 12/6/2007
• Jenga (WII) - 12/8/2007
• Left Behind: Eternal Forces (Expansion Pack) (PC) - 12/6/2007
• Left Brain, Right Brain (DS) - 12/5/2007
• Strawberry Shortcake: 4 Seasons Cake (DS) - 12/7/2007
• The Golden Compass (360) - 12/5/2007
• The Golden Compass (DS) - 12/5/2007
• The Golden Compass (PS2) - 12/5/2007
• The Golden Compass (PS3) - 12/5/2007
• The Golden Compass (PSP) - 12/5/2007
• The Golden Compass (WII) - 12/5/2007
• Universe at War: Earth Assault (PC) - 12/5/2007
• Warriors of the Lost Empire (PSP) - 12/7/2007
• Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 (DS) - 12/5/2007

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

Just when it looked like it was safe to go in the boardroom, Activision Incorporated (Guitar Hero) and Vivendi Games (World of Warcraft) have announced that they will be merging into Activision Blizzard - a move that involves some 19 billion dollars and will result in Vivendi gaining a 52 percent interest in the new company.

"December 2, 2007 (Santa Monica, Calif. and Paris, France) – Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) and Vivendi (Euronext Paris: VIV) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to combine Vivendi Games, Vivendi's interactive entertainment business — which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s™ World of Warcraft®, the world’s #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise — with Activision, creating the world’s largest pure-play online and console game publisher. The new company, Activision Blizzard, is expected to have approximately $3.8 billion in pro forma combined calendar 2007 revenues and the highest operating margins of any major third-party video game publisher. On closing of the transaction, Activision will be renamed Activision Blizzard and will continue to operate as a public company traded on NASDAQ under the ticker ATVI." - Activision Blizzard merger announcement

I've got to say that this one is actually a little bit shocking as it would appear that neither company was really in a situation where they needed the assistance of the other. It's also somewhat interesting to see that of all the different companies under Vivendi Games' banner, Blizzard is the one that made the title of the new company. I guess both sides know where the money train is, eh?

The terms of the merger seem fairly intricate, so I won't begin to go into them here in an abbreviated manner. If you're looking for all the details, be sure to check out Activision Blizzard's new website at www.ActivisionBlizzard.com. One thing that I should say right off the bat, is that World of Warcraft fans appear to have nothing to worry about, as according to Blizzard, they will continue to operate as a seperate division of the new company. (and certainly the fact that Blizzard was considered important enough to represent the new company in name indicates both sides are well aware that Blizzard should continue it's operations without interference)

"We're pleased to announce that along with the other companies that make up Vivendi Games, we are merging with Activision to form a new global entertainment organization called Activision Blizzard (pending shareholder and regulatory approval). Similar to our previous arrangement, Blizzard Entertainment will now operate as a division of this new organization.

There will be no changes to our games, our websites, our personnel, or our day-to-day operations as a result of the deal. However, this combining of resources will benefit all of the companies involved and will further strengthen Blizzard's ability to continue delivering high-quality content for our players around the world for many years to come. To learn more about this exciting new development, please read our Activision Blizzard FAQ." - Blizzard.com

I'm also sure Electronic Arts is a bit upset at once again losing the "biggest third party software company" title once again, so be sure to keep an eye out for more possible acquisition announcements in the coming weeks.

• Activision Blizzard - Official website
• Viviendi and Activision to form Activision Blizzard - Official press release
• Activision Blizzard FAQ - Blizzard.com