Court Orders PS3 Hacker to Turn Over Computers

George "Geohot" Hotz must remove hacking info from his website.

A California court has granted Sony's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Order of Impoundment against George Hotz, the renowned hacker that helped breach the PlayStation 3's security earlier this month.

Hotz, and all parties involved, are now restrained from distributing, providing, or otherwise trafficking in any PS3 security circumvention technology, including: products, services, methods, codes, and software tools, among others. Hotz must also remove any links from his website that directs others to the hacking software.

Kingdom Hearts 3D - The Adventure Continues

Mickey and his pals are going to kick some ass.

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Final Fantasy Versus XIII - Gameplay Trailer

Is this real life or is this fantasy? Decide for yourself as you view this jaw-dropping seven-minute trailer featuring the first-ever gameplay footage of FF Versus XIII.

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Fight Night Champion - Full Spectrum Punch Control Explained

After seven years, Fight Night is redoing how you throw punches. Get a first look at the new control system.

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Bethesda Touts 2011 Lineup, Confirms Release Dates

Developer/publisher promises great year for gamers.

As if to say, "Top that," Bethesda Softworks used a single press release to confirm the 2011 release dates for a foursome of heavy hitters today: Rage, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Brink, and Hunted: The Demon's Forge.

Whether developing, publishing, or both, Bethesda has a hand in four of the year's most anticipated multiplatform titles, and today confirmed when gamers will be able to get their hands on them.

We are thrilled to offer our fans such a strong roster of games," said Vlatko Andonov, president of Bethesda Softworks. "We are excited to present such a diverse line-up of high quality titles. 2011 will be a great year for gamers."

Guild Wars 2: Guardian Announced

Yes, Guild Wars 2 still exists in some form.

News about Guild Wars 2 has slowed to a trickle, like the last solidified chunks of forgotten honey spilled and seeping from the back of a cupboard. But we haven't forgotten about Guild Wars 2, which is why we're relieved when we receive any news at all, especially when it's a new profession announcement. Starring alongside the Elementalist, Warrior, Necromancer and Ranger is the Guardian, a support fighter with a blend of offensive and defensive abilities.

Guardians have a few interesting skill sets at their disposal. Spirit Weapons include a range of skills that allow the Guardian to summon ethereal weapons to fight alongside. Symbols, another ability, allow the Guardian to draw a range of symbols (hence the name!) on the ground to benefit allies or harm opponents. Wards allow Guardians to create magical barriers that enemies can't cross but allies can, which opens up a lot of tactical possibilities for ranged attackers.

Sony to Bring PS One Classics to Mobiles Through PlayStation Suite

Android mobiles, smartphones, tablets to get some PlayStation love by the end of 2011.

Sony hedged its hardcore portable gaming bet last night, announcing a new mobile gaming development and distribution system for Android-powered devices at the same press conference where it unveiled its powerful new PSP successor, codename: NGP.

Sony said it will deliver the "PlayStation experience" to mobiles, smart-phones, and tablet PCs through PlayStation Suite, a new initiative that will bring PlayStation content to an open operating system for the first time and bridge the company's casual gaming gap.

Mortal Kombat - Inside the X-Ray

This time, the real damage is on the inside.

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Sony Unveils Its Next Generation Portable, the NGP

PSP2 is codenamed NGP, features large OLED touch screen, 3G, flash memory based games.

It's real, and it's not named PSP2. Sony took the wraps off of its next generation portable, codename: NGP, at a press conference in Tokyo, Japan last night, promising to deliver an unparalleled interactive portable entertainment experience.

Sony says it will deliver "deep and immersive gaming" on the long-rumored new portable device through a 5-inch OLED touchscreen display (compared to the PSP's 4.2-inch and PSPGo's 3.8-inch), Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, rear multi-touch pad, dual analog sticks, games on flash memory based cards, PlayStation Network and PlayStation Suite (Sony's new Android mobile gaming distribution system), and battery life comparable to current PSPs (anywhere from 4 to 10 hours depending on use).

"When PSP first launched in 2005 in North America it changed the way people thought of portable gaming and raised expectations in regards to the variety and quality of games users expected to access while on the go," Sony America President Jack Tretton said in a statement. "With NGP we carry on this rich history of redefining industry standards and raising the bar for consumer expectations for what portable gaming can deliver."

 

Nintendo Reports 46% Profit Fall

Q3 profits take a hit as company makes way for 3DS.

Nintendo saw a 46% fall in its quarterly profits, with the dwindling sales of the Nintendo DS in the face of its immediate successor and the rising threat of Sony in the handheld market cited as reasons for the decline.

Nintendo has cut its sales forecasts for both of its consoles available on the market, with predicted sales of the Wii cut to 16 million units from 17.5 million for the financial year while the DS takes a hit from 23.5 million to 22.5 million.

Reuters is reporting that Nintendo's operating profit stands at 104.6 billion yen for the quarter, which sees a fall from the 192.3 billion yen from the same period a year ago.

The news comes in the immediate aftermath of Sony unveiling its PSP successor, the NGP, and mere days after Nintendo finalized its launch plans for the 3DS.

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Killzone 3 - Multiplayer Madness

Shoot your friends in Killzone 3.



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Ninja Gaiden III: Saved or Ruined?

Reinventing the gameplay might be the best thing to happen to Ryu.

Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden II were old-fashioned games, relics of Japanese developers unwilling to stray from conventions of the past. This according to current Team Ninja head Yosuke Hayashi. I love these two titles –Ninja Gaiden Black is one of my top five original Xbox games – but he's right. These games are built from old sensibilities for harcore gamers. Ninja Gaiden III is going to break free of this trap. At least, that's my hope.

Recently, IGN reported three big changes coming for Ninja Gaiden III: the story is a personal journey for hero Ryu Hayabusa, Team Ninja is rebuilding the gameplay from scratch, and it won't feature scream-inducing difficulty. Do these changes mean the Ninja Gaiden series is ruined or saved?

The Hero Within

Ninja Gaiden III may take place after the events of Ninja Gaiden II, but the focus is on telling the story of Ryu past. Ninja Gaiden II's ending appears to dovetail with the storyline of the old arcade game, making the modern series already something of a prequel. But now we're going to see more into Ryu's history, to days when he wasn't easily slashing the heads off enemies.

Story has never been Ninja Gaiden's signature. And to be fair, storytelling has never been a strong suit of Team Ninja. Will a more personal story, perhaps one that doesn't feature the rivers of blood in the Underworld, make for a more compelling experience? It's hard to say. At the very least, it sounds like Team Ninja is making an attempt to deliver something emotional.

To succeed, they need to tone down the melodramatic enemy speeches, the shadowy characters randomly who appear and disappear from the plot for no reason, and the boobs. No, seriously, I get it -- girls have boobs. Bouncing them in my face constantly is not unpleasant, but I can't take a game seriously that does so. It's also time for Team Ninja to stop teasing us about the childhood relationship between Ryu and Ayane. If this is about Ryu's past and we don't finally understand what formed this tight bond between the two, then why bother with an origin story at all?

Treyarch Patches PS3 Version of Call of Duty: Black Ops

Infinity Ward also working on fixes to thwart Modern Warfare 2 hackers.

Less than a day after UK lobbying group Gamers' Voice filed a complaint against Activision for its "unplayable" PC and PlayStation 3 versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops, Treyarch has released a patch for the game that appears to address the very issues Gamers' Voice complained about.

Posting on the official Call of Duty: Black Ops forums, Treyarch community manager Josh Olin said Patch 1.06 for the PS3 addresses the freezing, dropping, and connection issues associated with the Black Ops multiplayer. Olin did not reference Gamers' Voice complaint.

"Treyarch is dedicated to ensuring the best gaming experience for the fans, and we've been actively working with you to continue to improve the game based on your feedback," Oline stated. "As always, keep the feedback coming through the community forums."

Dead Space 2: Severed Announced

New single-player expansion coming soon.

Electronic Arts said today it will release a new single-player expansion for Dead Space 2 called "Severed."

The pack includes two standalone chapters in the single-player campaign and sees the return of two characters from Dead Space Extraction, Gabe Weller and Lexine Murdock. Players will take control of Gabe, who's stationed on the Sprawl as a security guard.

EA provided little detail about the story, only saying that Severed runs parallel to Isaac Clarke's story in Dead Space 2.

No price or release date has been set. EA says Severed is "coming soon" to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.

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Analyst: EA Investors Betting Against Star Wars: The Old Republic

Cost, tough market, transition to free-to-play have stacked the deck against SWTOR, analyst says.

Electronic Arts is going all-in with Star Wars: The Old Republic, investing a reported $300 million in the BioWare-developed MMO and taking on all of the game's marketing, distribution, and publishing responsibilities. And according to one analyst, EA's investors are doubtful the publisher's massive bet will pay off.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey said a number of factors are contributing to investor anxiety over Star Wars: The Old Republic. Namely, the last two MMOs EA published, Warhammer Online and All Points Bulletin, were flops; the industry's shift to a free-to-play model; and World of Warcraft's MMO market dominance.

Latest on Final Fantasy Versus XIII

Tetsuya Nomura hints at no 2011 release for long awaited Fabula series game.

Square took one of the thousand-or-so layers off the veil covering Final Fantasy Versus XIII at last week's 1st Production Department Premier event. Today, thanks to Japanese publication Dengeki PlayStation and a few trustful Japanese blogs that managed to get magazine's latest issue a couple of days in advance, we have new details, some good and some bad.

We'll get the bad out of the way first. There's no way this thing is coming out this year. Director Tetsuya Nomura is interviewed in the magazine and said that because they're trying to do a number of incredible things and the focus is on quality, they will need more time. He joked that because Duodecim Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy Type-0 and Final Fantasy XIII-2 are all due out this year, players should forget about Versus for the time being.

That's going to be tough to do, as the details the magazine has on the game do have us excited. Most of the information can be discerned from the Premier trailer, which will be released in HD later this week.

Jobs Axed At Disney Interactive Studio

Up 50% of staff to go as firm repositions as digital-only publisher.

Disney Interactive Studio, the House of Mouse's gaming arm, is said to be axing 'as many as half' of its 700-strong staff, as it repositions itself as a digital-only publisher according to a report in Variety.

The restructuring of the studio will see it move away from being a 'packaged goods company' - "As part of setting a strategic direction for future success in the digital media space", said a statement from Disney.

The publisher most recently responsible for Tron: Evolution and Disney's Epic Mickey recently saw a change in upper management following the departure of Disney Interactive Media Group head Steve Wadsworth in September 2010, with John Pleasants CEO of Playdom, the social gaming firm that Disney acquired for $763 million in late July, taking over the reins of the studio.

Thor PSP Canned; 3DS Version Confirmed

Another one bites the dust.

SEGA has pulled the plug on the PSP version of Thor: God of Thunder.

A company spokesperson confirmed the news to IGN this morning but could not provide an explanation behind the game's cancellation.

The spokesperson also stated a 3DS version of the game will now ship this May in addition to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Nintendo DS versions.

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Crysis 2: Multiplayer in the Superhero Sandbox

An early look at this week's Xbox Live exclusive multiplayer demo and more.

Any preview of Crysis 2 is invariably going to be torn between two things (or should be, anyway): how it looks, and how it plays. When I checked out a single-player section of the PC version of Crysis 2 a month or so ago, I was struck as much by how well it controlled on a 360 pad as how fantastic that version looked, and I was also left with some serious questions as to how it would run on consoles. Last week, things were switched around a bit as I spent time with Crysis 2's multiplayer on the Xbox 360, and I was struck by two things: how great it looked, and how not so great it played.

Thankfully, it looks like most of the graphical issues we saw at Gamescom last year and last year's multiplayer beta on 360 last year have been worked out, as Crysis 2 is clearly in the running for best looking console game out there. It's the atmosphere and lighting that really impresses. Levels are huge with a ton of routes and traversal options, and the constant shifts between darkness and daylight in Skyline, the level included in this week's demo, in particular are striking.

Rockstar Dates L.A. Noire, Releases Story Trailer

Developer, studio promise genre-defying experience.

Dig the tale, nightingale: Team Bondi's ode to James Ellroy hits the streets this spring. Publisher Rockstar Games announced this morning that 1950s detective thriller L.A. Noire will be released on May 17.

Using advanced motion scan technology to capture actors' performances and put them in a video game like never before, Team Bondi and Rockstar promise L.A. Noire will deliver an unprecedented level of realism, detail, and emotion. See for yourself in the game's latest story trailer:

WWE All Stars: Hulkamania Lives

Box art unveils two unbelievable Legends.

It was just last week when we got to play WWE All Stars and see what this arcade fighter was bringing to the wrestling scene. Moves will be over the top versions of what we know, gameplay will move as breakneck speeds, and the roster will be packed with current Superstars and Legends that look like extreme action figures.

Well, thanks to today's WWE All Stars cover reveal, you can add a couple more names to that ever-expanding list of talent. Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior are in this game, and that's no small feat considering Hogan currently works for WWE competitor TNA and the Ultimate Warrior has a history of conflict with the WWE.

Still, they're both in WWE All Stars, and we have your first look...

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Square Enix Dates Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy

Sequel to 2009 RPG fighter arrives Stateside in March.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 got all the headlines last week, but Square Enix also has news about an even more awkwardly titled entrant in the franchise: PSP RPG-fighter Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy is set to ship in March.

A prequel to 2009's Dissidia Final Fantasy, Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy once again brings together characters from the Final Fantasy universe to do battle in the arena.

Silent Hill: Downpour Gets Wet

Release date and first official screens for Konami's chiller.

Konami has unleashed a monsoon of screenshots as it details Silent Hill: Downpour, the next installment in the long-running survival horror series.

Having taken a brief sabbatical from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 – in which time the impressive Silent Hill: Shattered Memories released on the Wii – Downpour marks a return to the HD consoles.

Czech developer Vatra is behind the game, first scant details of which came earlier this month.

Now the trickle has turned into a downpour (sorry) as Konami reveals official screenshots and details some of the philosophy behind the game.

"Having a compelling story is the key element to a good Silent Hill game," said associate producer Tomm Hulett, "It's what set SH1 apart from the other early survival horror games, why SH2 is so fondly remembered, and so on. Of course, an important aspect of this is how the story ties into the horrific things the player encounters."

New Mortal Kombat Series Officially Announced

Digital series will delve into the history of the characters.

Confirming the news that broke a couple of weeks ago, Warner Premiere has officially announced a new live-action Mortal Kombat webseries - or, in their terminology, "digital series."

As expected, Kevin Tancharoen will direct, following the positive response to the unofficial short he directed, Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, in a bid to get Warner Bros to hire him to direct a new MK film – something that could still happen after this new series.

Says Warners, "Available this spring through online digital retailers from Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, the Mortal Kombat digital series is an anthology of multiple live action shorts, each providing never-before-revealed insights into characters featured in the upcoming videogame as well as the game's universe. Additional details, including casting, will be announced in the coming weeks." The spring debut of the digital series is planned in conjunction with the release of the new Mortal Kombat game, which comes out April 19th.

Dead Space 2 - Monster Closet

Dead Space 2 running at 1280 x 720 at very high settings.

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Mortal Kombat Gets a Date

Get over here!

Warner Bros. announced Mortal Kombat will hit store shelves on April 19 in North America and April 18 in the UK.

The PlayStation 3 version will include an exclusive additional character, Kratos, from the God of War series. PS3 owners will also be able to fight in 3D. No exclusive characters for the Xbox 360 have been confirmed.

Series creator Ed Boon told us his team was "coming back with a vengeance" as they attempt the reboot the franchise.

Three versions of the game will be available - Standard Edition, Kollector's Edition and Tournament Edition.

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Crysis 2 Multiplayer Demo on Xbox Live Next Week

Microsoft lands exclusive for Xbox 360.

Xbox 360 gamers will get their hands on Crytek's sci-fi shooter, Crysis 2, first, the developer announced today, and the Nanosuit will be ready for action next week.

Beginning on Tuesday, January 25, the Crysis 2 multiplayer demo will be available for download exclusively on the Xbox 360, featuring two game modes on a single map. Get a sneak peek at the six-on-six action below:

"Crysis 2 offers a fresh, new take on multiplayer -- one that will stand out and establish the game as a top contender in the first person shooter genre," Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli said in a statement. "The Nanosuit gives gamers a sense of power they have yet to experience in any other shooter and having New York City as a backdrop will present a different type of playground with even more possibilities."

Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime - Ghoulish Locations

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2K Games Dates Duke Nukem Forever

13 years after development began, shooter set to ship this spring.

Wired is going to have to find itself another Vaporware Award winner. 2K Games and Gearbox Software announced today that Duke Nukem Forever -- the Chinese Democracy of video games -- will finally be released in May.

It's taken 13 years, tens of millions of dollars, and a couple lawsuits, but the videogame that created the Vaporware Award is officially coming soon -- and 2K and Gearbox mean it this time.

"When I said goodbye to 3D Realms and the original Duke Nukem 3D team in 1997 and soon after founded Gearbox Software, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that a day like today would come," Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford said. "Today I am proud, humbled and even astounded to announce that the day is coming at last for all gamers to be a part of video game history: Duke Nukem Forever will launch worldwide this May."

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D First Look

Konami's football game flies in 3D.

Broadcasters might be trying to convince everyone that the beautiful game is even more beautiful in 3D, but it takes some convincing to get an entire bar to don the dreaded glasses on a Sunday afternoon. Nintendo's 3DS doesn't have that particular problem and it proves one thing: Pro Evolution Soccer in 3D looks bloody spectacular.

Walking around the show floor at Nintendo's Amsterdam showcase it's clear that the quality of 3D is going to vary wildly, and Konami's efforts are near the head of the pack. Pro Evolution Soccer 3D has depth, clarity and some crisp visuals borrowed from the series' mainline, and the demo did its best to flaunt its achievements to the hilt.

Only one perspective was available, offering a dynamic view of the action that sweeps dramatically across the field. Reminiscent of the camera modes that accompany Pro Evolution Soccer's Become a Legend mode, it did a good job of tracking the action, smartly panning when sprinting down the wing to give a clear view of where to punt the ball next.

Super Street Fighter IV 3D Kicks Ass

The best launch "window" title? Very likely.

I've always been of the opinion that there are two types of people that want to play fighting games. Those who study those games as if they were cramming for a mid-term, and those of us (like me) who just want to kick around and have fun for a few hours. What's remarkable about Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3DS is that while it seems very much intended for gamers like myself, it's honestly going to still appeal on some level to the hardcore folks looking for a portable version of the game they love.

Make no mistake about it. The 3DS version of Super Street Fighter IV is the real deal, complete with all 35 characters from the home console versions. Capcom has effectively ported the game over, and what differences there might be visually are easily covered over by the smaller screen format. And it's also gorgeous in 3D.

To build upon the established quality of Super Street Fighter IV, Capcom is adding several features. The first is what they're calling "3D Mode," which isn't to be confused with the notion that the entire game can be played in 3D. This mode shifts the camera perspective during a match by about 10-20 degrees. All else remains the same, including controls. At first this might sound utterly bizarre, but in practice it's absolutely effective. After a few minutes I found myself almost preferring this mode, simply because it was visually fresh - a bold change from what we've all come to expect from fighting games.

There's a Metroid Crossover in Dead or Alive Dimensions

Nintendo's collaboration with Team Ninja continues.

Though it may not be the kind of Metroid announcement fans were hoping for from today's 3DS Preview Event, it turns out that Nintendo's long-running series starring intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran will be making an appearance on the upcoming portable -- inside Tecmo Koei's Dead or Alive Dimensions.

Tecmo Koei's Team Ninja developers just finished collaborating with Nintendo to bring us the Wii-exclusive Metroid: Other M last year, and it appears they've gone back to the assets they crafted for that adventure -- because playable in the new Dead or Alive will be a Metroid-themed stage. It's the circular platform area where Samus faced off against her arch-nemesis Ridley in one of Other M's most memorable boss battles.

Perfecting the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Can one of the greatest games ever created become even better?

Can you improve upon perfection? That's no doubt the question many have in mind as they contemplate whether to buy The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, the latest re-release of a game that many (including myself) consider one of those rare perfect gaming experiences.

Considering my reverence for the original title, I was a bit apprehensive about revisiting Ocarina of Time. Would Nintendo change too much? Will the enhanced graphics be hastily added? Will the 3D interfere with the original concept? Am I going to want to use touch-based item management or the gyroscope to aim?

As it turns out, most of these fears were unfounded. At today's 3DS Preview Event, Nintendo offered three portions of the game's earliest moments as a taste of things to come. The Kokiri Village, Great Deku Tree and Gohma Boss fight were available for selection, each more or less showcasing the same concepts.

The game's visual alterations are fantastic and effective. This is everything I remembered and loved about Ocarina of Time, polished and upgraded for a portable experience. While the game is still perhaps somewhat limited by its aged visual design, Nintendo has redone character models, textures and some animation sequences. And the aged visuals actually work in the game's favor now, coming across as a sleek, streamlined art choice rather than an unfortunate trait of a game that is over 12 years old. Link's hat moves with better fluidity. His leaps have more frames of motion to them. It's honestly all very subtle, but considering I just played through some of these sequences of Ocarina a few weeks ago, the changes are definitely there. There's nothing different here that should displease purists.

Red Faction Armageddon Video Preview

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Madden 3DS: It's Like John Madden is Coming Right at You

Just like on TV, sports are some of the first things to go 3D.

It's rare for American gamers to get exclusives in new system launch lineups. That is, unless you like America's most popular sport that nobody else in the world cares about. That's right, I'm talking about football. And what would a new system be without a version of Madden NFL Football to keep it company?

Madden on the 3DS plays like a normal Madden game, for the most part. I'm not going to go into the rules of football, or how to play a game that has been around for two decades. Really the two things that make this game interesting are the 3D elements and the touchscreen.

The game uses a few different camera angles, and at times the 3D effects work well. It gives a sense of depth to the football field, making an end zone that's 60 yards off seem like miles. Unfortunately, most of the demo was presented from a high, almost overhead angle. I'm hoping that players can change this because otherwise the 3D is hardly even noticeable.

Killzone 3 Includes SOCOM 4 Beta Key

Look for the specially marked boxes when Killzone 3 launches next month.

Fully destructible environments, jet packs, mechs, a new melee combat system, tweaked controls, PlayStation Move support and stereoscopic 3D are some of the reasons to pick up Killzone 3. Today Guerrilla Games, Zipper Interactive, and Sony gave gamers another: a free ticket into the SOCOM 4 multiplayer beta.

Killzone 3 is set to hit store shelves on February 22, and specially marked boxes -- dog tags with the SOCOM 4 logo on the front cover -- will give buyers the opportunity to run SOCOM 4's online multiplayer mode through its paces.

Kid Icarus Uprising Is Painfully Good

It hurts to play, but all the funnest things do, right?

While playing through the demo for Kid Icarus Uprising at Nintendo's 3DS event in New York City, I started having flashbacks to another Nintendo DS game: Metroid: Prime Hunters. Remember how much it hurt to play? I nearly gave myself carpal tunnel. My hands protested in much the same way during my short time with Kid Icarus. The only difference was that this time I was enjoying myself too much to care.

It's hard to explain to younger gamers why they should be excited for a new Kid Icarus game. So I'm going to skip all the rhetoric about the glory days of 8-bits and eggplant wizards. Besides, this isn't the same kind of game at all, so the comparison is invalid.

Simply put, Kid Icarus is a shooter. Sometimes it pretends to be a close combat action game, but it is always a shooter. You control Pit – an angel with a big sword – with the analog stick, you control where he aims with the stylus, and you shoot with the L button.

Report: Sony Set to Unveil PSP2 Next Week

Bloomberg says PSP2 announcement next Thursday, "PSP phone" in mid-February.

Nintendo is center stage this morning, announcing the North American release date and pricing for the 3DS. But rival Sony doesn't plan on letting Nintendo hog the handheld spotlight for long. Reports indicate Sony will unveil the long-rumored PSP2 next week, followed shortly thereafter by its Ericsson-made PSP phone.

Citing "two people with knowledge of the plans," Bloomberg reports that Sony intends to officially announce the next generation PlayStation Portable next Thursday, January 27. Further, Sony will try to keep the gaming, tech, and consumer electronics buzz going into February when it unveils its "PSP phone," the Xperia Play.

3DS Price, Release Date Announced

Nintendo confirms launch details for U.S. and Europe.

Nintendo said today it will launch the 3DS in the United States on March 27, 2011 for $249.99.

Folks in Europe can get their hands on the device a few days earlier on March 25. Nintendo said European pricing will be set by retailers. HMV and GAME list the 3DS price at £229.99, while Play has it listed for £219.99.

The announcements came during the company's worldwide press events held in New York City and Amsterdam. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said that during the system's launch window - between the launch of the 3DS in March and E3 in June - that more than 30 first and third-party 3DS games will be released. Europe will see more than 25 games during the same time period.

"Nintendo 3DS is a category of one – the experience simply doesn't exist anywhere else," Fils-Aime said. "You have to see Nintendo 3DS to believe it. And it's like nothing you've ever seen before."

Nintendo also detailed many new features and software pre-installed in the 3DS.

New Yuji Naka Game Announced

Sonic's creator is hard at work.

Nintendo's official UK magazine is reporting that Sonic the Hedgehog's creator Yuji Naka is hard at work putting together an all-new 3DS adventure, and it will be an original title.

Called "Tenkuu no Kishi Rodea" in Japanese, the title will apparently see Yuji's newest hero soaring skyward -- flying through the clouds and shooting enemies there. Of course, the earth below won't be ignored either, as the title will also feature gameplay segments with players running along the ground.

The title won't be exclusive to the 3DS, however, as it's been further announced that a Wii version of the game is also in development. Could both editions essentially be the same game this time around, or will we see different designs for each platform? We'll find out for sure soon.

Black And White Played With Kinect

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Final Fantasy XIII-2 Reveal Trailer

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Skyrim's New Engine Detailed

A look at what's powering the next Elder Scrolls.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is going to benefit from an all-new engine, and Bethesda has detailed some of the improvements we can expect from the much-anticipated fantasy RPG.

Dubbed the Creation Engine, Skyrim's new powerhouse brings with it a suite of new tools and tricks that'll ensure this will be Bethesda's most technically impressive game to date.

"The big things for us were to draw a lot of stuff in the distance so we have a really sophisticated level of detail, more so than what we've had in the past for how things stream in and how detail gets added to them as they get closer to the camera," Bethesda Studio's creative director Todd Howard told Game Informer.

"Because our worlds are so big all of the lighting has to be dynamic," he said. "That's something we had a little bit of in the past with shadowing, but not on everything. Now we have it on everything. It just makes the whole thing a lot more believable when you're there."

The visual pass carries on to the minutiae of Skyrim's world; as it's set in a more Northern region that Oblivion's Cyrodiil, there'll be a more severe climate and the Creation Engine is well-equipped to deal with snow and rock-faces, while the foliage benefits from a bespoke engine for Skyrim's trees.

The improvements stretch beyond the visuals, and Skyrim's AI also promises to be a step up. The overhauled Radiant AI will deliver more believable NPC behaviour , with distinctive personalities being played out in the actions of Skyrim's inhabitants.

Ross Debunks Metroid Chat

Presenter clarifies comments on Twitter.

UK TV presenter Jonathan Ross has clarified comments he made on Twitter pertaining to the 3DS and its launch event in Amsterdam tomorrow.

Ross – who will be presenting Nintendo's event tomorrow where it's expected the precise details of the 3DS's North American and European launch will be revealed – had told a Twitter follower who alluded to a new Metroid game "I think you're going to be pleased...".

His comments unsurprisingly created a buzz, but he's since doused hopes of those expecting an appearance from Samus Aran at the event. "You started a lot of 3DS rumours!" wrote 3DSBuzz, "You meant darrenkerwin will be pleased about general surprises not about a Metroid 3DS didn't you?"

Final Fantasy Agito XIII Reborn as Type-0

Long awaited Final Fantasy XIII sister project hitting Japan this Summer.

Scratch Final Fantasy Agito XIII off your most wanted list. No, it hasn't been cancelled. Square Enix has just decided to rename it. Instead of Final Fantasy Agito XIII, it's now known as Final Fantasy Type-0.

The Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII sister project (and just to be clear, despite the name change, it's still part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series) saw its latest trailer and a few new details at today's Square Enix 1st Production Dept. event in Tokyo.

First Look: Final Fantasy XIII-2

We've got a logo and a screenshot, and that's all you're going to get for the next two days.

The biggest news from Square Enix's big 1st Production Department Premier event in Tokyo today was the announcement of a sequel to Final Fantasy XIII.

You've read the details, now get your first look at Final Fantasy XIII-2:

Nintendo Explains Region Locking

3DS hardware available in three types.

Nintendo has spoken out about the 3DS's region-locking, explaining the reasoning behind the decision as well as laying out how it will work.

News broke that Nintendo's new handheld would be region-locked last week, and now Nintendo has finally broken its silence to address the issue.

Cannon Fodder 3 Announced

Game set for Russia-only release.

One of the nineties' more fondly remembered series is being revived courtesy of GFI.

Originally released across various platforms in 1993, Cannon Fodder was a top-down shooter that earned plaudits for its darkly humorous view of war.

Russian publisher GFI has just revealed that Cannon Fodder 3 will be played out from an isometric perspective, and will feature destructible environments, weather effects and full 3D, and it promises 'cartoon violence'.

The story sees Europe, Asia and Africa forming a military alliance to establish a dictatorship – and it's up to you and your small band of brothers to bring their plans to an end. It's been confirmed for release on PC and Xbox 360.

Eidos: Testers Discover Depth, Strategy of Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Run-and-gun playthrough in 25 hours, strategic players will easily log more than 36 hours.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is now playable from start to finish and getting worked over by a swarm of play testers. And according to the game's producer, it's taking testers a robust 25 hours, minimum, to complete.

In an interview with PC Gamer UK, Human Revolution Producer David Anfossi said he's pleased with the initial reaction to the depth and length of the game. He added that because of the game's various gameplay options -- including stealth, combat, and tech -- the average playthrough is easily extended for more strategic players.

"So far with them playing about six hours every day, most of them don't complete the game," Anfossi told PC Gamer, noting that the testing team logs six day weeks.

Portal 2 Has Cross Platform Play

Valve details PS3 Steamworks.

Valve has confirmed the PlayStation 3 version of Portal 2 will feature cross platform play, allowing PS3 owners to play multiplayer games with PC and Mac users.

At E3 2010, Valve announced the PS3 version would include Steamworks, a set of publishing and development tools that integrates, among other things, game updates and community features.

Alongside cross platform play, PS3 owners also get persistent cloud-based storage of saved games, cross platform chat (PC/Mac and PS3), and a digital Steam Play copy of Portal 2 for PC and Mac at no additional cost by simply linking your PSN and Steam accounts.

Mass Effect 2 PS3 Video Review

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EA Planning 50% Off Sale on Xbox Live Titles

More than 20 games, expansions get price chop.

The holidays are over, but Electronic Arts plans to keep the deals going with a week-long 50% off sale on its best-selling Xbox Live Arcade games and add-ons.

Starting tomorrow and running through January 24, EA is slashing prices on everything from Battlefield 1943 (1,200 Microsoft Points to 600 or $15 to $7.50) to popular Dragon Age: Origins expansion, Awakening (2,400 to 1,200 or $30 to $15).

MotoHeroz - Racing Thrills Trailer

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"Xbox Isn't a Gaming Console" Says Microsoft

Steve Ballmer says the Xbox 360 offers so much more.

Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer has stated that the Xbox 360 isn't a gaming console – and that's what helps differentiate it from its competition.

In recent years Microsoft has been repositioning the Xbox 360 to appeal to a broader market than the core gamers that the console had traditionally wooed, and Ballmer's comments reiterated this movement.

"Xbox isn't a gaming console," Ballmer told USA Today, "Xbox is a family entertainment center. It's a place to socialize. It's a place to watch TV. We have Hulu coming. It's the only system where you are the controller. Your voice, your gestures, your body."

Angry Runes of Magic Player Threatens to Publish User Account Info

Hacker says company lies about secure account information, steals names and passwords to prove it.

A disgruntled player of popular MMO Runes of Magic is holding the game's roughly 3.5 million account holders hostage. User "Augustus87" hacked publisher Frogster's servers last week and is threatening to publish every user account name and password unless a lengthy list of demands is met.

Spotted by Kotaku, Augustus87 posted a message (since removed) on the Runes of Magic forums on Thursday, accusing the free-to-play MMO's Berlin-based western publisher of lying to its players and failing to secure its servers and game clients.

"YOU DECLARED WAR TO THE PUBLIC, YOUR CUSTOMERS, AND YOUR EMPLOYEES. YOU WANTED WAR. YOU ARE CLOSE TO GET IT!" Augustus87 wrote (yes, in all caps).