Virgin Play’s v.2 Play brings zombies to the DS in an arcade shooter designed especially for the DS. Dead ‘n Furious, aka Touch the Dead, throws players into the shoes of wrongly convicted murderer Rob Steiner who wakes up to find his cell door open and unguarded moments before an army of zombies attack.

Discover the truth

Players will blast their way through maximum-security prisons, research facilities, swamplands and airports in five levels as they search for survivors and clues to the truth behind the mystery. This on-rails shooter is based on classic titles such as House of the Dead and Time Crisis. With the gun controller being replaced by the stylus on the touch screen, players must shoot zombies by aiming and tapping the screen, dragging and dropping ammo to their gun reload when out of ammo. Dead ‘n Furious features double screen Heads of Display and inventory.

Players can adjust the camera up, down, left and right using the D-pad to change the viewing angle, allowing for closer inspection of the scenes. Although players are guided around the 3D environment, Dead & Furious features several paths which will result in unique endings, hidden secrets and unlockable items. Players can either play alone or cooperatively using the DS Wi-Fi capabilities.

Dead ‘n Furious is expected to be released sometime this year.

Nintendo, Europe added three new classic games to the Wii Shop Channel this week.

Final Fight (SNES, 800 Wii Points) is based in the same universe as the Street Fighter games. It is a side-scrolling beat-em up which follows the exploits of the Mayor of Metro City, as he takes the law into his own hands to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Final Fight features sinister bosses and devastating special attacks.

Battle Lode Runner (TurboGrafx 600 Wii Points) features a ‘Puzzle Mode,’ where players must collect gold bars while avoiding enemies, a ‘Battle Mode,’ which can be played by up to five players as well as a level editor.

Mighty Bomb Jack (NES 500 Wii Points) revolves around Jack using his powers to set the royal family free after they are kidnapped and imprisoned within a pyramid by evil demon Belzebut. Prepare for sixteen levels full of enemies and traps.

According to Japanese video games sales tracker, Media Create, the best selling game for the week of 16th to 22th April was Nintendo’s latest Wii game, Super Paper Mario, with 144 thousand copies sold. Developed by Intelligent Systems (Fire Emblem, Advance Wars), it is the latest game in the Paper Mario series of games which began on the Nintendo 64 and its first week of sales is higher than either of the previous entries.

The top five games in the Software Sales chart were all new this week, with Super Paper Mario followed by an all-ages Playstation 2 game based on the Fate/Stay Night graphic novel with nearly 135 thousand copies sold. In third position was an expansion for last year’s Persona 3 on PS2, entitled Fes, while Bandai-Namco’s Nodame Cantabile on DS and Square Enix’s Final Fantasy Anniversary Edition on PSP rounded out the top 5. Last weeks top title, the latest in the Phoenix Wright series dropped into sixth place, followed by last week’s number two, Mario vs Donkey Kong 2. Wii Sports and Wii Play dropped to positions eight and nine respectively, despite an increase in their weekly sales, while Yoshi’s Island DS rounds out the top ten. For the top fifty, the DS has 34 titles while the PS2 has eight and the PSP and Wii four apiece.

In the hardware charts the Nintendo DS continues its dominance, with its weekly sales increasing to over 172 thousand this week, and likely to increase more over the next week assuming the supply is available with the Japanese Golden Week usually marking an increase in video game sales. The Wii stayed roughly steady, up two thousand over last week at just under 78 thousand, and the PSP received a small boost to nearly 30 thousand on the release of Final Fantasy. The Playstation 2 and 3 were steady, with a very slight decrease from last week to 11 thousand.

Next week’s sales data will be available late due to the Golden Week holidays, but will likely be dominated by the huge number of new titles that were set for release over this historically high-selling period. In particular, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (DS), Big Brain Academy Wii and One Piece Grand Adventure (Wii) are likely to sell a fair number of copies.

Hardware Chart

Software Chart

Upcoming Titles

More than 250 000 unique PS3 users have registered to Stanford University’s Folding@home program in the month since PS3 systems became part of the program. Folding@home is a distributing computing project aimed at understanding protein folding, misfolding and related diseases.

“The PS3 turnout has been amazing, greatly exceeding our expectations and allowing us to push our work dramatically forward,” said Vijay Pande, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University and Folding@home program lead. “Thanks to PS3, we have performed simulations in the first few weeks that would normally take us more than a year to calculate. We are now gearing up for new simulations that will continue our current studies of Alzheimer’s and other diseases.”

Research now enjoys a computing power of 700 teraflops at a single moment, of which 400 are delivered by PS3 users. Since the PS3 joined the program a month ago the number of active PCs has increased by 20 percent.

PS3 users can download the new update version 1.1 by restarting the Folding@home application. This new version improves visibility of donor locations on the globe, folding calculation speed and protein viewing. The update will also provide PS3 users with additional language support, help screen hints and improved donor-name length and character handling. New Folding@home users can join by clicking on the Folding@home icon in the PS3 XrossMediaBar (XMB) or by setting the application to run whenever the PS3 is idle.

Sony has unveiled the official website for God of War: Chains of Olympus. Although fans have known for a while that the God of War franchise would be released on the PSP in a completely new adventure, details have remained vague.

The official website is still under construction so fans will not be able to glean too much information from it, however, Sony is offering a free UMD demo of the game. You must have a valid PlayStation Underground account to sign up for the free demo which will be sent in the mail while supplies last. Sony has remained mum on when the demos will be sent out or what content will feature in it. The only titbit of information which Sony has chosen to reveal, other than the name of the game, is that it will be released in fall 2007.

Activision has revealed that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare will be officially confirmed on the 28th of April. The first video from the latest instalment will be aired during the NFL draft on ESPN at 1:00 p.m. EDT / 10:00 a.m. PDT on US television on the 28th of April.

Although details are sketchy, we know that it is being developed by Infinity Ward. The subtitle of the game also suggests that it will be set in contemporary times rather than in World War II. There has been no confirmation on a release date or which platforms the game is being released on.

SCEA has announced the launch of Hot Shots Tennis available exclusively for the PS2. Set to launch in July 2007, Hot Shots Tennis brings the acclaimed Hot Shots franchise to the tennis world for the first time. Developed by Clap Hanz, it is an ideal pick up and play title that features wacky characters and tennis styles, exotic court locations and game modes. It will retail at $29.99.

Something fans of all ages can enjoy

Gamers can expect fast paced game play that blends arcade style action and strategy which allows gamers to practice various strokes, enter challenge modes as well as play singles or doubles with up to four players. 14 unique playable characters and five umpires are available in the game, and players can choose between various court surfaces including hardcourt, clay, and grass, set amongst 11 locations including tropical beaches and ancient ruins.

“Hot Shots Tennis draws from Clap Hanz’s success with the Hot Shots franchise by providing a social gaming experience that will appeal to casual players and tennis gaming fans alike,” said Jeff Reese, Director, Software Marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. “Whether it’s playing head-to-head or in a four-player doubles match with family and friends, this is a game that PlayStation 2 fans of all ages can enjoy.”

Different game modes

Hot Shots Tennis incorporates an intuitive control scheme to emphasize shot direction and rallies. More advanced players can make use of button timing and shot angles to balance strategy with speed and play styles. Using the quick play mode, players can test their skills against the AI, play head-to-head singles and doubles or even participate in four-player doubles competitions. Players can advance through seven player classes in Challenge mode, unlocking new characters, costumers, umpires and courts as they progress. Training mode enables players to practice shot timing and angles for different strokes.

Eidos has announced that Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary for the PS2 will be available in North American stores on the 5th of June.

Celebrating ten years of Tomb Raider and Lara Croft, this new action adventure was inspired by the original Tomb Raider video game. Developed by Crystal Dynamics, the game sees Lara hunting down a mythical object called the Scion. However, after discovering that she is being used as a pawn, Lara undertakes to uncover the truth behind the artefact.

Here are two screenshots from the game:

Eidos mother company SCi has announced that it will be bringing the titles Kane & Lynch: Dead Men and Crossfire to the PS3 after all. Both of these titles were previously announced for the Xbox 360 and PC.

SCi also announced revised release dates for both games. Kane & Lynch is set for a simultaneous release on all three platforms later this year with Crossfire following in early 2008 on the same platforms.

Kane & Lynch

“Kane & Lynch: Dead Men for the PlayStation 3 system will allow all next-generation gamers to savour the cinematic action and high-definition visuals of the game, said Darren Barnett, Development Director, Eidos Interactive. “Kane & Lynch sets a new standard for mature games and we’re pleased to be extending the experience to the PlayStation 3 system consumers as well as Xbox 360 and PC gamers.”

Developed by the makers of the Hitman series, IO Interactive, Kane & Lynch is a gritty third person action shooter which tells the tale of two men, one a flawed mercenary and the other a medicated psychopath, whose paths are forced together as they pursue redemption and revenge.

Caught in the Crossfire

Developed by Pivotal Games, Crossfire is new entry in the Conflict series. It is a two player cooperative FPS which immerses players in the role of a member of an elite team of two deniable agents hired by the government to finish the job and disappear. Players will be able to switch between the two field operatives, experts in weapons and military tactics, as they explore paths, create distractions, take out their targets and destroy everything in a fully destructible environment.

Apparently the decision to release the games across all platforms simultaneously is so that the company will “benefit from the long term revenue potential, versus shipping different platforms on different occasions.”

“The Group’s strategy is to release its new titles on next generation consoles once there is a significant installed base,” said the release by SCi. “The Board of SCi believes the installed base of PlayStation 3 will reach critical mass in the Group’s 2008 financial year. This is a decision which the Board believes will enhance the overall strength and long term revenue potential of these important franchises.”

A movie based on Hitman is currently in development at Fox Studios and SCi claim to be in advanced negotiations for the film rights to Kane & Lynch.

Ubisoft today announced that it is creating a new brand in the Tom Clancy series of video games, Tom Clancy’s EndWar. The game is being developed by Ubisoft’s Shanghai studio and will be led by Ubisoft’s creative director Michael de Plater. The teams experience includes developing Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell. Tom Clancy’s EndWar is scheduled to be released in fiscal year 2007/2008 on next-generation consoles.

A strategy game like no other

Set on World War III’s battlefields, Tom Clancy’s EndWar is a war strategy game built solely for next-generation consoles which is said to showcase AI, graphics, physics and animations made possible by the new hardware systems.

“Our development teams are invigorated to be creating the first 100 percent next-generation Tom Clancy brand,” said Serge Hascoët, chief creative officer at Ubisoft. “Our success with Tom Clancy franchises is unparalleled in the next-generation and Tom Clancy’s EndWar will be a marvelous addition to the already critically acclaimed library of games. A strategy game like no other, EndWar will allow gamers to lead their own armies against hundreds of others online in real global locations on the massive battlefields of World War III.”

Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto has been nominated for the 2007 edition of the Time 100, Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The creator of Mario is currently ranked as the second highest ranked candidate with an average ranking of 90 out of 100. With more than 200 candidates in the running, Miyamoto is currently beating the likes of Oprah, George Bush, Bono and Bill Gates.

Time listed Miyamoto as the ‘most successful game designer, creator of Super Mario, Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda, whose new platform, the Wii, is currently the top-selling game console.’ According to Time his cons are ‘his perfectionist tendencies often result in games being significantly delayed and, despite the Wii’s gameplay innovation, its graphics are far behind the competition.’

To vote for Miyamoto visit Time’s website.

Nintendo of Europe released a news article on their website yesterday warning people against using mod chips in Nintendo’s products. In it they explain that the use of a mod chip voids the manufacturer’s warranty, which is inevitable as to install one you have to open up the console. They go on to explain that mod chips have been adjudged to be illegal in various countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and most European countries, and in this they are referring to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act in the US and similar acts in the other territories. According to these acts, it is prohibited to attempt to circumvent copyright protection measures put in place by the creator of a product, which is exactly what a mod chip does.

Nintendo of Europe’s statement is a little ambiguous on the subject of prosecuting private users of mod chips, but they do state that they will charge anyone caught selling or installing mod chips. In the past corporates have prosecuted purveyors of mod chips quite vehemently (such as Sony against Lik Sang), but are highly unlikely to take private consumers to court.

We are not sure of the legality of mod chips in South Africa, but we are investigating. In Australia a Wii mod chip is legal if it allows the owner to circumvent the region encoding Nintendo have put in place.

Note that this means a DS mod chip would be illegal in Australia as the DS has no region encoding to speak of.

Majesco today announced Turn It Around for the Nintendo DS. Developed by 505 Games, Turn It Around will see players mastering the touch screen turn wheel in 24 arcade style games. Turn It Around is set to be released this summer for $19.99.

“Turn It Around’s unique spinning premise and wide range of mini-games make it a perfect title for gamers looking for a new handheld experience at a great value,” said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing, Majesco.

Want to go for a spin?

Turn It Around features a collection of 24 mini games based on rotating discs placed in the touch screen. The wacky game play takes place in several settings including the underground and a sushi restaurant and features humorous graphics and characters. Players will need to strategically rotate the turn wheel to complete each game based on power, technique or speed. Prepare to destroy blocks in Arkanoid, transport guests in Elevator Action, maintain balance in Packed Train or hit it out the park in Pitch Hitter. The game also features three multiplayer turning modes.

After four years Nintendo has stormed the All Formats Charts by taking the number one position with Pokémon Ranger. Last week’s number one title, TMNT: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, was relegated to the number two spot.

Pokémon Ranger is the sixth title in the Pokémon series to reach the top of the All Formats Charts in the past ten years and the first DS Pokémon title to reach number one in the DS chart. Pokémon Ranger is the first title developed by Nintendo to hit the top of the All Formats Chart since Pokémon Ruby for the GBA just under four years ago.

Nintendo’s DS featured strongly on the charts with 7 DS exclusive games in the All Formats Top 40, including Rising Star Game’s Harvest Moon DS, Nintendo’s Hotel Dusk: Room 215, All Time Classics and 505 Games’ Cooking Mama.

Oz Pokémon fans can look forward to the 21st of June, the date set for the release of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl down under. Nintendo has also confirmed that gamers can expect to pay A$69.95 for the latest DS Pokémon adventure.

Debuting in Japan in September last year, Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl became one of the fastest-selling Pokémon games, selling more than five million in the first three months of its release.

Taking place in a new land called Sinnoh, Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl features enhanced graphics, 100 new Pokémon as well as the 386 Pokémon available in previous versions. Gamers can also import Pokémon from their GBA games after completing certain objectives.

Up to eight gamers can connect and play using the local wireless connection. Both games are fully Wi-Fi compatible so Pokémon fans from around the world can connect and compete. The DS’s microphone even allows players to talk before, during and after battles. However, only players who have entered one another’s Friends Codes can communicate using this VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) feature, allowing players to control who they communicate with. The new Nintendo DS headset will further enhance these conversations. Set to be released in Australia on the 21st of June, the headset will be sold separately and will retail for A$19.95.