Late Night Consoling

Though it has been known for some time that Ubisoft is publishing the video game adaptation of the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film TMNT, the company only just today officially announced the game, referred to only as "the TMNT game." Ubisoft Montreal is heading up development of the game, which is in the works for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PSP. According to today's press release, the game will feature the four mutant turtles' signature fighting moves and tag-team moves, along with acrobatic abilities for traversing rooftops and sewers.

"The TMNT movie is all about the emotions associated with family and teenage angst," said creative director Nick Harper. "We've taken that philosophy and turned it into gameplay mechanics that will be fun and challenging. The direction for the all new TMNT movie and game is a darker, more realistic Turtle experience. Gamers will embody all four Turtles from the big screen to engage in over-the-top action sequences and intense ninja combat. We think this game will appeal to kids, teens and adults alike."

Ubisoft Montreal's TMNT game is set to ship for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, and PSP on March 23, in close proximity to the theatrical release of the motion picture.

Activision today announced plans to deliver several new multiplayer maps for the Xbox 360 version of Treyarch's Call of Duty 3 via Xbox Live Marketplace. One map, which comes in a pack fittingly entitled Bonus Map, is set in Port Royal de Champs, France, and will be downloadable for free at an unspecified date after the holidays. At the same time, the Valor Map Pack will be put up for purchase and will contain five new multiplayer maps set throughout France. It will be available for 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

Nintendo today announced that the latest games in Game Freak's long running Pokemon series, Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl, have a confirmed North American ship date after having been released in Japan earlier this year. Both Nintendo DS games will hit shelves on April 22, 2007.

D3Publisher of America confirmed today that its previously announced Xbox 360 alien invasion game Earth Defense Force X is indeed coming to North America in March 2007. Along with that confirmation came news that the game, entitled Earth Defense Force 3 in Japan, has received another name change for the Western market. It will now be known as Earth Defense Force 2017.

Developer The Collective sends word that it has launched the official website for its upcoming vampire hunting-themed action game Harker. The game is planned for release in 2008.