Congratulations to Fayyaad Hendricks, Mark Dennison and Robert Dionisio who each won a demo unit of Guitar Hero: On Tour.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Megarom for sponsoring these great prizes!

If you weren’t so lucky this time, head over to our competitions page to see whats cooking or read more about the game in our review.

Although there’s still a week to go before Spore launches, you can download the game from the EA Store today.

If you pre-order the PC version of the game, you can pre-load the game and be ready to play it (with just 30 minutes install remaining) when it launches on the 5th of September in Europe and on the 7th across North America.

This pre-order offer is only available for PC owners, Mac owners will have to wait a little longer. The game is priced at £39.99.

Microsoft and Tecmo have announced that Ninja Gaiden II has sold over one million copies worldwide.

The Xbox 360 exclusive was released in June and NPD data shows that it went on to sell 412 000 copies in the US alone, boasting $25 million in sales.

If you have read our review of the game you will know that “Like its predecessor, Ninja Gaiden II follows the exploits of Ryu Hayabusa of the Dragon Lineage. Predictably, he has to pursue a horde of unleashed Hellspawn, whip their butts back to the underworld, and prevent some unspeakable evil from being released. Assisting him in his quest is Sonia, a CIA agent who inexplicably dresses like a dominatrix.”

After handing over a Wii and Wii Fit to Durban Children’s Home, El33tonline visited Ethelbert Children’s Home to continue the spirit of giving. As mentioned in Part one detailing our Wii Fit Charity handovers, El33tonline won the 25 Day Wii Fit Media Challenge. We visited the Durban Children’s Home first and then the Ethelbert Children’s Home to hand over a Wii console and Wii Fit to each charity, kindly sponsored by Core Gaming.

Ethelbert Children’s Home is situated in Malvern and has been taking care of children in need for over 100 years. Comprised of 6 houses, the Home currently houses 65 children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years. They receive a 1/3 subsidy from the Government and another 1/3 from the Church, however, they have to rely on fundraising to gather the remainder.

Left to right: Wayne Trollip, Sean Ingram, Seni Padayachee

Post continues, click to read more…

A little while ago we announced that El33tonline won the 25 Day Wii Fit Media Challenge. We nominated the Durban Children’s Home and Ethelbert Children’s Home as our two charities, with each charity winning themselves a Wii console as well as a copy of Wii Fit, kindly sponsored by Core Gaming. Although some time has passed since we handed over the prizes, we wanted to share the stories of the hours we spent with the children at the homes.

Durban Children’s Home has been looking out for children in need of care for over 100 years now. The home currently takes care of 75 children, ranging in age from 2 to 17. Janet Innes, Coordinator at the home for 24 years, and Prem Pillay, social worker for 5 years, accepted the prize from Core Gaming representative Seni Padayachee.

Right to left: Janet Innes, Prem Pillay, Seni Padayachee, Durban Children’s Home resident, Lisa Konigkramer.

Post continues, click to read more…

One by one I’m ridding myself of many of my backlog games and Daxter was next in the list to see if it would stand the test of time, even if it is just two years old or so.

Jak’s irritating sidekick is getting a game for himself? Now how much fun could that really be? Surprisingly lots – this a great example of all that is good and right about the dying genre: Platformer games. You might have thought that using the dodgy analog nub on the PSP would be a dodgy proposition but, you’re wrong, it plays just brilliantly. And who would have thought?

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Daxter.

Today is your last chance to enter our Guitar Hero: On Tour competition.

If you want to be in the running to win one of three demo units of Guitar Hero: On Tour, head over to our competitions page to answer an easy question. Find out more about why you don’t want to miss out on this awesome game by reading our review.

Just a reminder to all you DS gamers in and around the Durban area that we are getting together to race tonight.

Think you have what it takes to beat the best of the best (at least we think some of us are) - then come along and meet us tonight at Twin Falls Spur in Kloof around 7.

We also have some awesome prizes sponsored by Core Gaming up for grabs, so clear your gaming calendar and see you there!

The Nintendo DS continued its reign on top of the Japanese hardware chart for another week. All consoles experienced a sharp decrease in sales this week after last week’s holiday spike.

The DS sold 55 995 units, dropping drastically from last week’s 78 666, but still retaining the title of best-selling console in Japan. This is hardly surprising given Nintendo’s domination of the software chart in the past few weeks. This week Nintendo held eight of the Top 10 positions with six DS titles and two Wii titles. Head over to this week’s software chart to see which four games debuted in the Top 10.

The PSP came in second with 47 604 units, down from last week’s 64 413 but still retaining its lead over the Wii which sold 35 173 units to secure third place. Wii sales shot up last week to 53 036 units, but this week drops almost 17 000 but still remains well ahead in the next generation race.

The PS3 followed with 9 020 units and the PS2 with 8 420, down from last week’s 11 393 and 10 168 units respectively. The Xbox 360 continues its downward spiral, dropping from last week’s courageous performance of 7 358 units to its usual 3 551 this week.

Source: Media Create

Sony has detailed its line-up for the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX).

A post on SCEA’s PlayStation Blog confirmed that PAX attendees can expect hands-on with LitteBigPlanet, Resistance 2, SOCOM Confrontation, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, Resistance Retribution, SingStar, Buzz! Quiz TV and Buzz! Master Quiz.

A subsequent post confirmed that eager fans can get a first time hands-on with Resistance 2 multiplayer and take centre stage with SingStar and Buzz! Quiz TV. There will also be on stage demonstrations of inFamous and level building with LittleBigPlanet.

According to Natalie Behrman, Consumer Events Specialist, “most of these games will be continuously playable throughout the three days.”

If you are lucky enough to be attending PAX, make sure you check out the tournaments that Sony will be holding with PlayStation loot up for grabs.

Microsoft has confirmed its line-up for the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX). You can expect quite a few demos at the Microsoft booth including Gears of War 2, Project Origin and Halo Wars.

Look out for demos of Gears of War 2, Project Origin and Popfly on Friday while Saturday brings more Gears of War 2, Popfly and Project Origin as well as Halo Wars and the new Xbox experience and a Gears of War 2 signing session. Sunday mirror’s Saturday’s line-up.

It is interesting to note that Microsoft has allocated two ‘TBA’ slots on both the Saturday and Sunday at 4:30pm. What could they possibly have up their sleeve? Stay tuned because the chaps over at Gamerscore blog promised that other titles would be available to play in the booth. So far we have confirmation that Gears of War 2 will be playable.

EA has unveiled the track list for its upcoming Wii music game Boogie SuperStar. The game will feature nearly 40 songs made famous by artists including The Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears and Fall Out Boy.

Boogie SuperStar will also include three songs from Natasha Bedingfield, who is the spokesperson for the game. Bedingfield commented “Boogie SuperStar brings to life all the fun and excitement of performing. Being on stage is such a thrill and it’s great to be a part of an EA video game that lets girls experience how much fun it is to express themselves and explore their own creativity by performing.”

Boogie SuperStar sees players using a microphone to sing along to their favourite tunes. The game also captures players dance moves through the Wii’s motion sensing technology. Players can sing and dance with or against their friends in the game as well.

Boogie SuperStar will be available exclusively for the Wii in North America and Europe this October.

Post continues, click to read more…

The latest word from Famitsu magazine (translated by Kotaku), is that over ten million PSPs have been sold in Japan.

Sony’s handheld was launched in the land of the rising sun in December 2004 and as at the 24th of August has shifted more than ten million units.

In other news Capcom dominated the top-selling PSP games list in Japan, claiming three of the top five spots with Monster Hunter Portable titles.

According to a recent list posted by Famitsu magazine (translated by Kotaku), Capcom has claimed three of the top five PSP games in Japan.

Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G is the top selling PSP game in Japan. Released in March 2008 the title has sold 2.396 million copies. Second on the list is Monster Hunter 2nd which has sold 1.706 million copies since its release in February 2007. Square Enix’s Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII comes in third with 790 705 copies sold since September 2007 while Monster Hunter Portable is fourth with 668 964 copies sold since December 2005. Sega’s Phantasy Star Portable finishes fifth with 545 242 copies sold since its release in July 2008.

Looking at the above figures you will notice that not only did Capcom claim first, second and fourth place, but that all three were Monster Hunter Portable games, showing just how popular the Monster Hunter series is in Japan.

Konami’s J-League Winning Eleven 2008 for the PS2 has topped the Japanese software chart, selling 79 000 copies for the week ending the 24th of August.

This is one of four titles that debut in the Top 10 this week. Nintendo again dominate with six DS and two Wii titles in the Top 10 positions. This could be an indicator that the DS will be the best-selling console in Japan again this week but tomorrow’s hardware chart will reveal all.

Last week’s number 1, Rhythm Tengoku Gold, drops to number 2 with 57 000 copies. Nintendo’s DS rhythm title continues to sell well and passes the half a million sales mark, with life-to-date sales totalling 536 000. Level 5’s Inazuma Eleven for the DS debuts in third place with 41 000 copies while Square Enix’s Dragon Quest V drops one place to finish fourth with 32 000.

Sega’s Phantasy Star Portable for the PSP drops from last week’s number 2 to number 5, selling 31 000 copies. Nintendo’s Wii Fit drops two places to number 6 with 30 000 copies, its life-to-date sales now standing at 2.546 million. Koei’s Harukanaru Toki no Naka for the DS enters the charts at number 7 with 26 000 copies and Sigma Harmonics for the DS from Square Enix is new at number 8 with 23 000 copies.

Nintendo’s Mario Kart Wii drops four places to number 9 with 19 000 copies while Daigasso! Band Brothers DX for the DS, also from Nintendo, is at number 10 with 16 000 copies after re-entering the Top 10 last week.

Nintendo’s Wario Land: Shake It! for the Wii drops to number 17 after re-entering the Top 10 last week. However, the most interesting thing in this week’s software chart may very well be the GameCube title at number 30 – Mario Superstar Baseball.

If you, like me, follow sales trends in Japan make sure you check out last week’s software and hardware chart.

Source: Media Create