At the EA Spring Break press event in San Francisco, we had a chance to give EA Black Box's motion-centric Skate It a test run in both its Wii and Nintendo DS incarnations.

While we were grinding our faces into the pavement, we also managed to chat up the designers on bringing the Skate franchise to Nintendo's systems and the development of the new control schemes.

"It took between a month and a half to two months to reach that 'really, this is the game we want to make' kind of point," said designer Dana Fortier. "Up until that point, we really weren't even sure we wanted to pursue it. Once we hit that point where... Read more

Following yesterday's initial screenshots, Electronic Arts has sent out more media from Skate It, the skateboarding game in development for Wii and Nintendo DS. There are Wii and DS screenshots, and for both platforms we also have videos focused on game controls.

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Registered users can use the HD Stream. Click through for the Nintendo DS video ... Read more

A portable version of Rare's pinata-breeding, garden-tending franchise Viva Pinata will arrive on Nintendo DS this fall, publisher THQ has announced.

Titled Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise, the game is being developed by series creator and Microsoft subsidiary Rare. While it made seem odd for THQ to publish a Microsoft title, the companies have paired in the past to distribute portable renditions of other Microsoft-owned properties.

Along with a new Playground mode that is said to let players "create a lush garden full of exciting and exotic pinatas in a very short amount of time," the game will include rare pinatas that are only accessible by trading items to another local player through the portable's wireless connection.

"Nintendo DS is the perfect platform for the Viva Pinata franchise because players can have direct interaction with the environment and their pinatas using the stylus," said THq marketing VP Bob Aniello.

Electronic Arts has announced that it is developing a direct sequel to EA Black Box's skateboarding title Skate (PS3, X360), referred to as simply Skate 2, along with separate Wii and Nintendo DS entries titled Skate It.

The Wii and Nintendo DS iterations of the series (both pictured below) are due out later this year. The Nintendo DS version will use the portable's touch screen to control tricks.

Along with motion-sensitive controls that "mirror actual skate flips and moves," the Wii edition of Skate It will support the Wii Balance Board that comes packed with Wii Fit.

As for Skate 2, it was only revealed that the sequel is due on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Released last fall, Skate and its thumbstick-centered control scheme outsold the competing Tony Hawk game by a ratio of 2:1, prompting Activision to halt its annual Tony Hawk iterations and rework the series. EA had previously noted that it planned more Skate games.

Publisher Game Factory has unveiled new details concerning Two Tribes' time-waster send-up Rubik's World (Wii, NDS), and released a pair of accompanying screenshots.

Both the Wii and DS versions of the title feature 8 distinct games each, said to mix puzzles, quizzes, music and sound activities, in addition to the classic Rubik's Cube game.

The press release issued by the publisher also states that "the better ... Read more

The next entry in the Activision-owned wartime shooting franchise Call of Duty will take place in a "new military theater," according to Activision Publishing CEO and president Mike Griffith.

Speaking during a conference call yesterday, Griffith said that the unnamed sequel, which many unofficially refer to as Call of Duty 5, will arrive on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS later this year.

The CEO did not elaborate further on the game's setting. His comments suggest that, contrary to past reports, the title may not return to the World War II setting featured in the first three Call of Duty titles.

As pointed out by Gamasutra, no details were provided as to which studio is developing the game. Job listings have indicated that Call of Duty 3 developer Treyarch may be returning to the franchise, with speculation that series creator and Call of Duty 4 developer Infinity Ward is already working on Call of Duty 6.

Codemasters has announced that it has secured a license to create Formula One racing games, after Sony recently opted not to renew its deal. With the new license, Codemasters plans to develop a new F1 game franchise for multiple platforms including PC, with the first title expected in 2009. The deal is a multi-year one, Codemasters confirmed to Shacknews.

News that Codemasters has picked up the license does not come as much of a surprise, considering the company's considerable racing game expertise (Colin McRae Rally series, TOCA Touring Car series, the upcoming Race Driver: GRID), its recent acquisition of Sega Racing Studio, and the fact that the company's headquarters are in Europe, where the sport is much more popular than in North America.

"Codemasters' success and recent innovations in the racing game space makes the company more than appropriately tuned for the challenge," said Codemasters chairman Chris Deering, adding, "The combination of Formula 1's new momentum of expansion and Codemasters' contemporary technology and past experience is the breaking of a new dawn for the sport, on the track and on the HD game screen."

Publisher Sierra has announced that video game based off the upcoming film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor will hit PlayStation 2, Wii, and Nintendo DS on July 22, a few days shy of the movie's August 1 release.

The Nintendo DS version of the third-person action title is being handled by WET creators A2M, while Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy and Ice Age 2: The Meltdown developer Eurocom has been tasked with the PlayStation 2 and Wii editions. The game is also said to feature "hieroglyphic decoding gameplay elements."

The title continues the Brendan Fraser-centric franchise's tradition of cross-marketing video games alongside the films. The first movie was accompanied by a video game release on the PlayStation, the sequel had PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Color renditions, and the Scorpion King spin-off appeared on PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance.

Publisher THQ announced today that it has acquired the license to create a game based on Marvel's "burgeoning, kid-friendly" Super Hero Squad property.

Aimed at young children, the Marvel Super Hero Squad franchise presents happy big-headed renditions of classic Marvel characters, such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wolverine, The Incredible Hulk, and the planet-eating Galactus (pictured left).

The Marvel Super Hero Squad game is slated to arrive on unknown platforms in fall 2009, coinciding with the 2009 launch of the television show. Action figures are already in stores, with a dedicated comic book series planned for the fall.

According to THQ, which recently lost $35.3 million and is axing 200 employees, Marvel Super Hero Squad "further strengthens its position as the pre-eminent creator and publisher of kids video games."

Update: Developer Pandemic sent over a few screenshots of the game, and revealed that, in addition to PC, PS3, and X360, LOTR: Conquest will be hitting Nintendo DS this fall.

Original Story: IGN has first details on The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, a new action game in development at Mercenaries developer Pandemic Studios.

The game, in development for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 is likened to the Pandemic developed Star Wars: Battlefront, where players can jump into any battle they saw in the movies and help either side win. The game will include two campaigns -- one of them featuring a storyline where Sauron regains control of the One Ring -- and comes with co-op support; online as well as through split-screen. Electronic Arts previously noted the existence of the project during a meeting with analysts.

"Our Pandemic Studios creative teams have years of expertise... Read more

Long-time Nintendo programmer Colin Reed has left Nintendo for a position at Microsoft, Shacknews has learned.

During his 11 years at Nintendo, Reed served in many key programming roles, including technical lead on NST's Metroid Prime: Hunters (NDS) and main system programmer on Nintendo EAD's Pikmin (GCN).

Reed will be joining the team at Microsoft responsible for the racing-sim series Forza Motorsport, which is headed up by internal studio Turn 10. Prior to his departure, he was working with NST on an undisclosed project.

His resignation marks the latest high-profile departure from Nintendo. In late April, Metroid Prime series developer and wholly-owned Nintendo subsidiary Retro Studios lost three pivotal staff members.

Nintendo of America has released a new Channel for the Wii, enabling owners to download DS game demos and transmit them to the portable system.

Dubbed the Nintendo Channel, the free download also provides more detailed information on certain games and enables users to buy titles from select online retailers via the console's Internet Channel.

The Nintendo Channel is currently available for download from the online Wii Shop Channel.

Publisher Atlus sent eight new screenshots from the dungeon-exploring RPG Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns (NDS), showcasing the series' humor and its tendency to display cartoon bosoms.

Developed by series creator Success, Izuna 2 is slated to hit Nintendo DS on July 22.

Publisher Atlus has released screenshots of its surgical sim sequel Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 (NDS).

A direct sequel to the notoriously difficult 2005 surgical sim, Under the Knife 2 marks the return of Dr. Derek Stiles dealing with the aftereffects of GUILT, the plague battled in the first title. The game features a variety of enhancements, new operations and several new difficulty modes.

Under the Knife 2 is slated for release on July 1.

Capcom vet and Game Republic founder Yoshiki Okamoto says that the market for Nintendo's DS may be destined for a market crash similar to Atari in 1983.

Speaking on Nintendo's wildly popular Nintendo DS, Okamoto suggested that the system's rapid growth and glut of available software might indicate an impending doom for the market, particularly in North America.

"I think it's a fact that the market blew up more rapidly than even [Nintendo] thought it would," Okamoto told Gamasutra. "And the faster something expands, the easier it is for it to deflate again, right? I hope they come up with a way to avoid this with the DS. But for one thing, there are way too many titles out all at once."

"You've started hearing the phrase 'Atari crash' pretty frequently," he added. "People are talking about how the second 'Atari crash' is around the corner. And Nintendo is the one that has to figure out a way to stop it."

The infamous Atari crash in 1983 was prompted by a number of factors, including increased saturation of consoles and products on the market. The crash nearly destroyed the then-fledgling game industry.

New gameplay and plot details for the recently announced new entry in Ubisoft's Prince of Persia series were unveiled in the latest issue of French magazine Joypad.

The game is said to create a more fantasy-like game and to bring a poetic vision to the series over the previous Sands of Time trilogy, with which the new title shares no direct connection. The title's cel-shaded visual styling and revamped gameplay scheme were adjusted according to this presentational revision.

"The previous trilogy mixed the Arabian Nights in with historical Persia," said creative director Jean-Christophe Guyot in a Eurogamer translation. "We decided we'd prefer to return to the tales of the Thousand and One Nights for something more colourful."

Guyot added that the game is "Zelda-esque, old school, with very contrasting levels," set against the plot of a cursed land that must be healed by defeating boss guardians. Much like Okami, defeating the bosses will transform the world in... Read more

Developer Tecmo today announced Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff, a revival of the classic Tecmo Bowl franchise.

Set for launch this fall on the Nintendo DS, the game will feature stylus control, customizable playbooks, classic Tecmo Bowl-style cutscenes, and multiplayer over wireless and Wi-Fi internet.

"We are extremely excited to bring back everyone's favorite football game to the Nintendo DS," said Tecmo producer Ryan Gilbo. "Kickoff is packed with everything that fans wanted to see in this revival. No other football game will ever compare to Tecmo Bowl as this is the game that started it all."

A full list of features is available after the link. ... Read more

Publisher Atlus has released new screenshots of Summon Night: Twin Age (NDS), Flight-Plan's recently delayed stylus-driven action RPG.

Originally slated for release on May 20, Twin Age is now expected to hit retail outlets on June 3. Atlus provided no reason for the delay in yesterday's announcement.

Publisher Sierra has supplied us with a large number of new screenshots for its upcoming releases, including Ghostbusters, Prototype, and World in Conflict: Soviet Assault.

Be sure to check out the full post for all the goodies, as there is simply too much to fit on our front page. For information on a game, just click on its name to pull up all our past coverage.

Ghostbusters (PC, PS2, PS3, X360, Wii, NDS)
Terminal Reality, Red Fly Studio / Fall 2008

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (PS3, X360)
Swordfish Studios / Fall 2008 ... Read more

Rental agency Blockbuster has announced several efforts to expand its presence in the video game sector, beginning with the placement of high-profile video games such as Mario Kart Wii and Grand Theft Auto IV in the formerly movies-only "New Releases" section.

The company further boasted that all of its corporate-owned branches in the United States are now stocking and selling software, hardware and accessories for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS.

To celebrate, the Blockbluster revealed an exclusive PlayStation 3 bundle--containing a 40GB PS3, HDMI cable, Traveller's Tales Transformers: The Game, Blu-ray Remote Control, Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray disc, and 12-week PS3/Blu-ray rental card--is now selling for $499.99.

The retailer had previously attempted to get into the retail games business through the opening of GameRush stores within select Blockbuster locations, which allowed gamers to buy and trade gaming paraphernalia for new and used games and hardware.