Sony Computer Entertainment America today released new PSP firmware, bringing the portable console up to version 3.50. Most notably, the update adds PlayStation 3 Remote Play functionality, allowing the console to stream music, photos, and videos via wi-fi over the internet from a PlayStation 3 console. While the feature was technically added to PlayStation 3 in its version 1.80 firmware update, it is only now able to be used.

Also included in today's update is a new RSS and podcast index, available directly from the RSS Channel of the PSP's front menu.

Activision has announced the release of the Bravo Map Pack for the Xbox 360 version of Treyarch's Call of Duty 3 (X360). Consisting of five maps total, the pack contains three new maps as well as two remakes drawn from Infinity Ward's original Call of Duty and Grey Matter Interactive's Call of Duty: United Offensive expansion.

The newly developed maps are Rimling, a canal-filled town; Aller Haut, an Axis fortress; and Seine River, a village on the major French waterway. Call of Duty's Depot is reprised as Gare Centrale, while United Offensive's vehicular Kharkov returns as Marseilles.

Bravo Map Pack is available via Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

Namco Bandai Games today released new downloadable content for Namco's Ridge Racer 7 (PS3). New events, decals, and beats can now be purchased via the PlayStation 3's PlayStation Store. This content has been available for several months in Europe and Japan.

Also released to the PlayStation Store today is Midway's arcade racer Championship Sprint, first released in 1986 by Atari and brought to PS3 by Sony Online Entertainment. It is available for $4.99.

2K Sports today sent over a list of tracks planned for inclusion in Blue Castle Games and Visual Concepts' upcoming exaggerated baseball game The Bigs. "In The BIGS, everything is to the extreme, from the colossal baseball players to the surreal stadiums, so we wanted a soundtrack that would capture the magnified nature of the game," said 2K Sports' Tim Rosa, whose official title is "Director of Brand and Lifestyle Marketing." The list is as follows:

- Stone Temple Pilots, "Plush"
- Screaming Trees, "Nearly Lost You"
- Jane’s Addiction, "Ocean Size"
- Killing Joke, "Millennium"
- Rollins Band, "Tearing"
- White Zombie, "More Human than Human"
- Midnight Oil, "Dreamworld"
- Fu Manchu, "Hung out to Dry"
- Motorhead, "Ace of Spades"
- The Stooges, "Down On The Street"
- Primus, "Jerry Was A Racecar Driver"
- Blue October, "Somebody"
- Satellite Party, "Insanity Rains"
- Highbench, "Satisfied"

The Bigs is expected to ship for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PSP next month. Check out our preview of the Wii version.

Sony today updated the PlayStation 3's online PlayStation Store with a smattering of games and trailers. On the game front are Sumo Digital's tilt controlled duck-centric Super Rub A Dub--available in both free demo and $6.99 full version form--and Sony Online Entertainment's $4.99 port of Midway's classic dungeon crawler Gauntlet II.

Following the system's newfound support of downloadable PlayStation games, 10 of the $5.99 PlayStation titles on the service were updated to be playable on the PS3: 2Xtreme, Crash Bandicoot, Destruction Derby, Jet Moto, Jumping Flash, MediEvil, Rally Cross, Syphon Filter, Tekken 2 and WipeOut. Those who previously bought said PlayStation games though the PlayStation Store can download an updated version for free.

As for trailers, PS3 owners will find glimpses of Housemarque's Super Stardust HD, SOE's version of Midway's Rampart, and Midway's BlackSite: Area 51, along with the theatrical trailer for Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End feature film.

According to reports from the PlayStation.com forums, the North American closed beta test for SCEE's Home began today. Of the small number of PlayStation 3 owners who received an e-mail about the beta in April, the select few chosen to participate will find the Home beta client available for download from the PlayStation Store.

Publisher LucasArts and developer Day 1 Studios have announced Fracture, a sci-fi shooter focused on terrain deformation. Set for release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 during the summer of 2008, Fracture allows players to modify the landscape with their arsenal of weapons. For example, a tectonic grenade creates a towering pillar of rock, which can then be used for puzzle solving. Another example sees a stray rocket launcher blast resulting in a gaping crater, reminiscent of Volition's Red Faction series.

"LucasArts sees simulation-based gameplay as an essential component of a true next-gen experience, and that's exactly what Fracture delivers," said LucasArts VP of product development Peter Hirschmann. "Day 1 Studios has done a phenomenal job of creating true next-gen tech that not only dazzles on a visual level but also serves as a core gameplay mechanic. Unlike many other next-gen games on the market, Fracture simply isn’t possible in the previous generation of consoles."

Nine screenshots and a trailer of the game can be found at the official website.

In celebration of feature film Tron's 25th anniversary, classic arcade games Tron and Discs of Tron are headed to Xbox Live Arcade care of developer Backbone Charlottetown and publisher Disney Interactive Studios. As with most classic Xbox Live Arcade releases, both will feature enhanced graphics and audio as well as the original assets and online multiplayer.

Originally released in 1982, Tron contains four mini-games based off the movie: tank battles, light cycle racing, a duel with the Master Control Program and grid bug extermination. Discs of Tron followed in 1983, building upon the Pong-like life-or-derez sport also glimpsed in the film.

Rated E for Everyone, both Tron and Discs of Tron are slated for release on Xbox Live Arcade this summer.

System 3's update of Dennis Caswell's beloved Commodore 64 platformer Impossible Mission will be the first original game on the Wii Shop Channel, Nintendo UK has confirmed. As in the the original, the remake has players avoiding deadly robots as they search through Professor Elvin Atombender's randomly generated fortress for the password pieces that will put a stop to his evil plan. As is the case with most modern remakes, the original version of the game will be included as well.

The System 3 edition of Impossible Mission is planned for a summer release on PlayStation 2, Wii, DS and PSP.

Publisher 2K Sports sent along word that St. Louis Cardinals All-Start first baseman and power hitter Albert Pujols will adorn the cover of Blue Castle Games' upcoming "over-the-top baseball action title" The BIGS. Formally announced last October, The BIGS is set to appear on PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PSP later this summer.

Insomniac Games has posted the fifth episode of its Full Moon Show podcast. Discussed in this edition are Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) production updates, the current happenings of the Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3) online community, an "I Want Your Job!" interview with Insomniac screenwriter TJ Fixman, and a segment with Old Grandma Hardcore.

Sony-sponsored blog Three Speech has announced that the PS3's PlayStation Network will be host to two new games this summer, Super Stardust HD and Snakeball.

Super Stardust HD is Finnish developer Housemarque's followup to its 1993 and 1995 Amiga shoot-em-ups Stardust and Super Stardust. The game is similar to Asteroids in concept, with the player breaking down asteroids and destroying enemies with a spaceship on a fixed background. It adds numerous weapon power-ups as well as planets that players must defend from the attacks. Several screenshots were released.

Snakeball, whose developer was not given, seems to be a heavily modified version of the frequently imitated game Snake (though Three Speech refers to it as "simply the funkiest online sport ever created"). Standard single-player mode appears to be the most similar to classic Snake, with players directing a robotic snake thing to consume colored balls and grow as long as possible. Challenge Mode pits players up against a succession of fortified arenas. Finally, the game supports eight-player online gaming in which competitors attempt to take out their opponents by growing larger, incapacitating them with balls, or hitting them with a variety of weapons. Sony released three screenshots.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will release Super Stardust HD to the PlayStation Store in June, with Snakeball to follow in July. No North American release plans were given.

Following January's announcement of Visual Concepts' All-Pro Football 2K8, publisher 2K Sports has launched an official site which includes a long roster of 240 legendary NFL players to be featured in the game. Specifically highlighted on the page are Troy Aikman, Dick Butkus, John Elway, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, and Johnny Unitas.

In addition to the roster of pro players, All-Pro Football will feature a player creation system. Players will be able to create custom teams and choose from an unspecified list of stadiums. The game's soundtrack will feature both original music and remixes of licensed tunes; the official site is accompanied by Z-Trip's remix of Rush's classic Tom Sawyer.

"It's great to be back not only 'playing' the game I've loved my entire life, but now I get to compete with and against the best players of all time," said recently retired multiple record holder Jerry Rice. "2K Sports has a proud legacy of making the best football games and this one is no exception. I'm proud to be part of the All-Pro Football 2K8 team."

2K Sports plans to ship All-Pro Football 2K8 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this summer.

Microsoft today posted third quarter fiscal results, with the company showing strong increases in revenues and operating profits while the game-producing Entertainment and Devices division saw continued losses and lowered sales figures. Thanks in part to the release of Windows Vista, which launched at the beginning of this fiscal quarter, Microsoft posted revenues of $14.4 billion, up 32% year over year, and profits of $4.93 billion, up 65% year over year.

Entertainment and Devices--which incorporates the Xbox unit and Microsoft Game Studios, Games for Windows, and Zune--saw revenues drop to $929 million, a 21% decrease year over year, with a loss of $315 million, down 22% year over year. Microsoft cited lower Xbox 360 shipments as the primary reason for the shortfall, with unit shipments down 71% to .5 million from 1.7 million in the same period last year; notably, that period last year was the first time the console was meaningfully available for purchase, following a supply-constrained launch. In recent months, Microsoft has seen accusations of stuffing retail channels with Xbox 360 units in 2006, which would contribute to the lower than expected unit shipments in early 2006. Quarterly software sales for console and PC were $393 million, down 44% year over year.

Nintendo today released its sales performance for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, posting corporate record highs in both revenues and operating profits. The company saw revenues of 966.5 billion yen (US$8.15 billion), up 90% year over year, and operating profits of 226 billion yen (US$1.91 billion), up 150% year over year.

The primary factor in the record figures has been Nintendo DS, which continues to see increasingly strong performance worldwide. To date, the system has sold over 40 million units worldwide, putting the unit far past the lifetime performance of the Nintendo 64 and GameCube, and approaching the Super Nintendo's approximate lifetime sales of 49 million. Over half of the DS' total sales were made in the last fiscal year. Nintendo hopes to sell 22 million DS units in the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, on par with the performance of the previous period.

In its approximately five months on sale, Wii has sold 5.84 million units alongside 29 million games, giving the machine a software attach rate of 4.97. The company hopes to see 14 million Wii unit sales in the current fiscal year, approximately on par with its proportional performance so far. To achieve that goal, Nintendo also pledged to further increase the production capacity of the Wii, which continues to see demand outstripping supply at retail.

The Behemoth released new content for its Xbox Live Arcade game Alien Hominid HD this week, making available to North American gamers 100 PDA mini-game levels previously released only with the European version of the original retail Alien Hominid game. The PDA Euro Pack is currently available for 150 Microsoft Points ($1.87).

Two new demos were today added to PlayStation 3's PlayStation Store. Gamers now have access to playable samples of Team NINJA's upcoming Ninja Gaiden Sigma, its PS3 update of the studio's Xbox titles Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden Black, as well as of Sega-AM2's tennis sim Virtua Tennis 3. Both demos are currently freely downloadable.

Activision sent word that the long awaited Hero Pack and Villain Pack for the Xbox 360 version of Raven Software's Marvel: Ultimate Alliance are finally available via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Each pack is available separately for 500 Microsoft Points ($6.25), while a combined pack is available for 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

Last November, Microsoft announced that Bungie was developing two new Halo 2 multiplayer maps that would be available in spring 2007 only for those playing the Xbox game via the Xbox 360's backwards compatibility feature. Today, Microsoft identified the maps and revised its prior claim, stating that the maps would be available on April 17 as paid content for Halo 2 players on either Xbox console.

First up is the sublime Hang 'Em High, which Microsoft claims is "the most requested Halo multiplayer map ever," and rightly so. Known as Tombstone in its Halo 2 incarnation, the map has received various tweaks to its design as well as a fresh coat of paint that replaces the original cool blue look with a grittier stone and aged metal texture set. A single screenshot is available here. Pro tip: There is no finer map for Team Crazy King.

Also en route is the tiny indoor arena Derelict, which is receiving a Halo 2 remake as Desolation. Originally an indoor map, the new Desolation appears to be set in a forest outpost, and has received a similar palette change to that of Hang 'Em High/Tombstone. Check out this screenshot. Pro tip: This is where you play Oddball.

Tombstone and Desolation will be available via Xbox Live on Xbox or Xbox 360 for $4 starting April 17.

It has long been known that current Ninja Gaiden franchise developer Team NINJA has a Nintendo DS game in the works, but the title has remained under wraps. This week, Tecmo officially announced Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, an action game in the long running ninja series. Unusually for the genre, Dragon Sword is played with the DS held sidways in a book-like configuration, and features full stylus control. Several Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword screenshots are available.

"We're very excited to be bringing Ninja Gaiden back to a Nintendo platform," said marketing manager Yoh Watanabe. "The Nintendo DS will allow gamers to control Master Ninja Ryu Hayabusa slash for slash with the use of the DS Stylus in a way never possible in previous iterations of the game. Dragon Sword will be the definitive ninja title for all DS owners to experience."

Tecmo plans to ship Team NINJA's Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword for Nintendo DS in North America this October.

Konami this week confirmed that longtime Solid Snake voice actor David Hayter will reprise his role as the now-aged mulleted action hero in Kojima Productions' highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for PlayStation 3. Other series veterans making a return for MGS4 include Paul Eiding (Roy Campbell), Christopher Randolph (Hal "Otacon" Emmerich), and Quinton Flynn (Raiden). The cast will be directed by returing voice director Kris Zimmerman to deliver a script written by Metal Gear creator and overlord Hideo Kojima and MGS4 director Shuyo Murata.

"I couldn't be more excited about this game. What I've seen of Metal Gear Solid 4 has absolutely blown me away. To bring the focus of the story back to Solid Snake, and to work with Kris Zimmerman and many of the amazing actors that provided iconic voices for the previous games, is like coming home," said Hayter, also known as the screenwriter of X-Men and X2. "I'm so proud and grateful to have been involved with Mr. Kojima as the voice of Snake, for nearly a decade, on this legendary video game series. This game is going to plunge players into the ultimate Metal Gear experience. And personally, I can't wait to play it."

Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is expected to ship for PlayStation 3 later this year.

Sony this week sent word that the PS3's online PlayStation Store has been stocked with a playable demo of Kush Games' PlayStation 3 version of Major League Baseball 2K7. It is freely downloadable now.

Capcom has been slow to bring content to the Wii, but today the company announced that it is developing an exclusive adventure game for the system. With a working title of Project Treasure Island Z, the game uses the motion-sensing Wii remote to allow players to interact with environments and objects. Project Treasure Island Z appears to have gameplay similar to traditional PC adventure games, with puzzle-driven gameplay and a focus on exploration. Players take the role of Zack, a pirate in search of a legendary stash of treasure said to have been hidden by the famed pirate Barbaros. Capcom sent along two early screenshots.

"Innovation has been the cornerstone of Capcom’s successful history," said Capcom marketing VP Charles Bellfield. "By introducing a whole new level of interactivity, this title reinforces our commitment to pushing the limits on how people view and play games."

Project Treasure Island Z is being directed by Eichiro Sasaki of Resident Evil Outbreak (PS2) and Power Stone 2 (DC) fame. It is being produced by Hironobu Takeshita, who has handled production on the Breath of Fire franchise as well as Capcom's recent Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins (PSP).

Capcom expects to release Project Treasure Island Z for Wii this fall.

Namco Bandai Games announced today that it will be telling more Tales, as the latest in Namco's long running RPG series is set to hit North American PSPs. Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology features the Tales gameplay that fans know and love, and also includes a character creation option as well as the ability to trade character customization items to other gamers via the system's local wireless functionality.

"Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology is the most in-depth RPG title to date in the Tales series as the player is thrown into an epic journey filled with popular classic characters from previous Tales games and compelling events that unfold in a dramatic fashion," said Namco Bandai Games America senior VP Makoto Iwai. "From the moment they turn on the game, players will be engaged in the popular free-roaming battle system Tales games are known for and a story that will submerse the player from the first scene to the final battle."

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology, from Namco's Tales Studio, is expected to ship for PSP this summer.

Microsoft today announced that the Digital Eclipse's long-awaited Xbox Live Arcade version of Konami's classic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night will be available for Xbox 360 as next week's Xbox Live Arcade Wedneday release. Put up on Xbox Live Marketplace at 2:00 am Pacific time on Wednesday, March 21, the game will run 800 Microsoft Points ($10). It will contain 12 possible Achievements totalling 200 Gamerscore points. Microsoft sent along some new screenshots today.

Sega today released a playable demo of the Xbox 360 version of AM2's Virtua Tennis 3 (PS3, X360) to Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo, featuring Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, and Venus Williams, is currently freely available.

In a rather suspect PR announcement, Activision has announced that Harmonix's Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II has gone green. This, you see, is a clever pun which modifies the phrase "gone gold"--indicating that a game has been complete and is ready to be pressed to a gold master disc--to suit the green-tinted Xbox brand marketing. Oh, video game industry!

Anyway, the game will be available for Xbox 360 on April 3. It will include ten additional tracks over the PlayStation 2 version of the game, along with online leaderboards and the ability to acquire new tracks through Xbox Live Marketplace when they are released.

2K Sports sends word that players of Visual Concepts and Kush Games' NBA 2K7 (PS2, PS3, Xbox, X360) can unlock special St. Patrick's Day uniforms for the Knicks, Bulls, and Celtics by entering the following code (minus quotes) at the cheat code menu: "tpk7sgn". Screenshots of the uniforms are available here.

In an extremely brief press release dated tomorrow but revealed today, 2K Sports made the statement everybody seemed to know it would one of these days: the company is returning to the football video game market. The company announced All-Pro Football 2K8, its first football game since Electronic Arts acquired NFL exclusivity for games in 2004. Though 2K will of course be unable to use the NFL brand in its game, prior rumors have suggested that the may seek to sign players individually, including licensing all-time greats of the sport.

"Football gamers have been awaiting the return of the 2K series," said Greg Thomas, president of developer Visual Concepts. "All-Pro Football 2K8 will deliver an authentic next generation gridiron experience and we are happy to give fans another choice in the football category."

All-Pro Football 2K8 is almost certainly coming to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and seems like a likely candidate for Wii. 2K Sports expects to ship the game this summer.

Breaking from its frequent strategy of announcing Xbox Live Arcade releases mere days before their availability, Microsoft today sent out a list of ten titles that are coming to the service starting in February. Each game will be released on a Wednesday, in keeping with the Xbox Live Wednesdays program, though Microsoft noted that not every week may see a game release. The full list is as follows:

- 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures (Wanako Games, Sierra Online) - Screenshots
- Alien Hominid HD (The Behemoth); includes "exclusive Xbox Live Arcade features" - Screenshots
- Band of Bugs (NinjaBee); tactical strategy game, includes level editor - Screenshots
- Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Konami) - Screenshots
- Catan (Big Huge Games Inc., Microsoft. Game Studios); remake of popular board game - Screenshots
- Eets: Chowdown (Klei Entertainment Inc.); remake of PC game of the same name - Screenshots
- Luxor 2 (MumboJumbo LLC) - Screenshots
- Paperboy (Digital Eclipse, Midway); enhanced arcade port - Screenshots
- Root Beer Tapper (Digital Eclipse, Midway); enhanced arcade port - Screenshots
- Worms (Team 17 Software Ltd.); Worms in its 2D incarnation - Screenshots

Ubisoft today confirmed the existence of Blazing Angels Secret Missions, a followup to Ubisoft Romania's Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII, which has so far shipped for PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, and PC, with a Wii release forthcoming. As of today, however, Secret Missions has only been announced for Xbox 360 and PC (to which the press release refers as "Games 4 Windows").

Secret Missions appropriately focuses on experimental aircraft and weaponry, putting the player into the role of an elite member of a special airborne team sent to conduct clandestine missions against the Third Reich's own experimental equipment around the world. Ubisoft notes that the background of Secret Missions has been researched from actual World War II projects.

The publisher promises boosted graphics over the game's predecessor, a new campaign, and multiplayer modes including cooperative, capture the flag, free for all, and others. Ubisoft also sent along some initial screenshots.

Ubisoft plans to ship Blazing Angels Secret Missions this spring.

Sony today released two PSP downloads, one considerably more exciting than the other. First up is the latest firmware update, which raises PSP's system version to 3.10. Among its changes are the ability to play MPEG-4 AVC video via LocationFree, the addition of a dynamic volume normalizer, and the option to "conserve memory" while browing the web in order to facilitate viewing of larger web pages.

Also available is a demo of Guerilla Games' third person shooter Killzone Liberation, released in October 2006. It is being hosted at the official PlayStation site.

Sega today announced the opening of the Armored Core 4 official site. It contains screenshots, movies, and information on FromSoftware's upcoming mech action game. Sega plans to ship Armored Core 4 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this spring.

Codemasters sent word today that it has launched the official site for IR Gurus' flight combat game Heatseeker, in the works for PlayStation 2, Wii, and PSP. The site consists of screenshots as well as various pieces of information about the game, which is expected to ship this spring.

This week, the internets came upon the official site for a game called Eternity's Child, which claims to be "coming [to Xbox 360] this year for Xbox Live Arcade." The game appears to be a 2D platformer with an outlined 2D style, set in a fantasy world. Further investigation turns up a post on Gamertag Radio, where site co-founder Godfree claims to have spoken with developer Luc Bernard. Apparently, Bernard is creating the game using Microsoft's recently released XNA Game Studio Express environment, which would make Eternity's Child one of the first--if not the first--XNA-created games to be commercially released. Bernard noted to GTR that "Eternity's Child" is a working title; the game, a "fairy tale for adults," is hand animated, with standard 2D platforming gameplay. Several screenshots were also released.

Shacknews has contacted Microsoft for further information, but has not yet received an official response.

Publisher Namco Bandai Games has revealed that a sequel to its anime-based Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (PS2) will be released this year. Fittigly entitled Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2, the game will again be developed by CyberConnect2. The upcoming head to head fighting game will feature over 30 playable characters in 16 stages, with a full story mode spanning 60 missions. Ultimate Ninja 2 also features various mini-games, a practice mode, and unlockable content. "'NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja 2' delivers exactly what fans are craving, intense head-to-head ninjutsu battles and story driven gameplay" said Namco Bandai localization VP Naruo Uchida. "The first title was a monstrous success and the bar has been raised even higher for the second game."

CyberConnect2's Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 is expected to ship for PlayStation 2 in summer 2007.

Traveller's Tales, the UK-based studio best known for its well received and bestselling LEGO Star Wars series, has acquired independent developer Embryonic Studios. Embryonic was founded in 2005 by Nick Elms, former founder of Digital Anvil and Warthog Games, now Gizmondo Europe. Elms has also worked for now defunct Origin Systems on games such as Times of Lore and Privateer 2: The Darkening. Embryonic employs 20 people at its Bollington, Cheshire UK offices. The recently formed company has yet to release a full game, but did work on the Xbox port of 2K Sports' 49Games-developed Torino 2006.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "We are delighted to have completed the acquisition," said Traveller's Tales' Jon Burton. "Embryonic possess a very talented workforce that will help drive Traveller’s Tales on to further success."

After being the subject of months of intense controversy, Rockstar Vancouver's schoolyard action/adventure game Bully (PS2) was released last October to exceptionally strong critical reception. It seems to have sold well, though perhaps not well enough to justify another game in the franchise. Speaking to GamePolitics, noted Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter estimates that based on its performance so far, the game will end up with sales around 800,000, which while strong are likely not enough to provide a significant return on the development investment. "My guess is that the company did no better than to break even," said Pachter. "I would NOT expect a sequel."

Publisher Rockstar Games has declined to comment on the matter.

In a surprise announcement at a press conference held in Tokyo today, Square Enix announced that the next main entry in the long running Dragon Quest series of RPGs, entitled Dragon Quest IX: Defenders of the Stars (alternatively translated as Protectors of the Sky), is currently in development exclusively for Nintendo DS. PlayStation home consoles been the debut systems for flagship Dragon Quest series entries since Dragon Quest VII, leading many to assume PlayStation 3 would host the ninth main entry; some speculated the series would head to Wii in order for the now consolidated Square Enix to spread its across a broader install base. Few likely predicted it would come to a portable system. Still, the news is less strange in light of Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii's frequently stated principle of bringing Dragon Quest to the most successful system in order to give it the biggest potential audience. The series is Square Enix's biggest in its home territory of Japan, where DS is the current undisputed sales champion.

Dragon Quest IX is rendered in a similar style to TOSE's Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (NDS), using a 3D world with art direction drawing from the cel-shaded style of Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2). In a new development for the series, it features a wireless four-player cooperative mode, which reports from online publications have indicated operates over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game will also be fully playable in single-player mode. Early screenshots and videos suggest that the game does not feature random battles, but is rather an action RPG which may bear gameplay connections to titles in the vein of Secret of Mana (SNES).

The same team at developer Level 5 responsible for the acclaimed Dragon Quest VIII will be returning to develop Dragon Quest IX. Long time character designer Akira Toriyama will also be reprising his development role, as will series composer Koichi Sugiyama. Horii will take the reins as project lead, with Level 5 president Akihiro Hino. This is the second DS game known to be in the works from Level 5, following the recent announcement of Professor Layton and the Mysterious Village.

Development of Dragon Quest IX apparently began some time ago, and the game is expected to ship next year in Japan. No North American release plans have been announced, but with strong worldwide sales of Dragon Quest VIII it is very likely the game will see broad release across all major territories. We've got some early screenshots here.

Developer and publisher Funcom announced today that its upcoming MMO Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, initially announced solely for traditional MMO platform PC, has been approved by Microsoft for development on Xbox 360. It does not appear that actual production of the Xbox 360 version of the game has yet begun, and it is not likely to release simultaneously with the PC version. "This is a groundbreaking leap forward for Funcom. The fact that we now get the chance to develop 'Age of Conan' for the Xbox 360 means access to a potentially whole new and large MMO market," said Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas. "The fast-paced and innovative combat system in 'Age of Conan' will suit the demanding console audience perfect. We believe the amazing online capabilities of Xbox 360 will be a great match for MMOs like 'Age of Conan', and as one of a handful officially approved MMO games for the console we aim to create a unique, brutal and powerful online gaming experience."

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is planned for release on PC some time in 2007; no expected release period has been announced for the Xbox 360 version.

Last December, TIE Fighter and Secret Weapons Over Normandy developer Totally Games announced that it would be developing a new game based on a classic Sega title; this September, the company announced that it had become an officially licensed Wii developer. Today, those vague statements became more clear as the company announced Alien Syndrome, based on the Sega property that began life as an arcade overhead shooter that was eventually brought to numerous console platforms. Coming to Wii and PSP, the new game will be a sci-fi action RPG with a variety of extraterrestrial environments and some twenty different weapons. It is entirely unrelated to Sega's coincidental announcement yesterday of multiple games based on the Alien films. I guess Sega just likes aliens.

As far as how the game will use the Wii's motion-sensitive controller, the announcement states that the remote will give players "a full range of motion" when performing various actions, as well as being used to craft and enhance items and abilities, and hacking in-game computers. The PSP version of the game will feature a local wireless co-op mode for up to four players.

Sega plans to ship Totally Games' Alien Syndrome for Wii and PSP in summer 2007.

Sony Computer Entertainment America will be bringing its upcoming baseball title MLB 07 The Show to all three of its currently supported console platforms, the publisher announced today. The SCE Studios San Diego-produced series is the only first party baseball franchise licensed by Major League Baseball, and one of only two MLB-licensed franchises currently in production, thanks to 2K Sports' exclusivity deal. MLB 07 The Show will add online league play and a new Adaptive Pitching Intelligence system, and will feature returning components such as career, season, and exhibition modes. It was not specified whether the new online league play feature will be heading to all three platforms. The PlayStation 2 version of the game will feature the return of Rivalry Mode and Home Run Derby, as well as EyeToy compatibility. The PSP version will have access to online MLB news feeds.

SCE Studios San Diego's MLB 07 The Show is expected to ship for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PSP in spring 2007.