The latest issue of Japanese gaming magazine CoroCoro has revealed new features that will be in Pokemon Platinum on Nintendo DS when the RPG gets released in Japan on September 13th, 2008, and in 2009 in the rest of the world.

New Pokemon Platinum features include:

* You have to face Team Galactic once more, but it seems their plans and HQ have been stepped up a fair bit. New characters include a new member of Team Galactic and an international police force (Interpol) who are hunting Team Galactic.
* The Battle Frontier returns and takes place in the Fight Area in Sinnoh. There are different areas in the Battle Frontier, their battle quirks are not yet known. However, it does still contain the Battle Tower.
* The Wi-Fi area has been enhanced with various areas, which support up to 20 people at any one time.
* The Poffin making has taken a step up and has a new feature that involves a Swalot-shaped machine. You essentially throw berries into its mouth. This can be done over Wi-Fi in the new Wi-Fi area.
* The Battle Recorder, an item that allows you to record battles that you hold, and share them with your friends. This is done at the new and improved GTS in Jubilife City, which has a bigger global terminal.
* In Floarama Town you receive the Flower of Glacidea, which you can use on Shaymin, then Shaymin’s secret form changes procedures. — Shaymin changes from Land form to the Grass / Flying type Sky form. Ability is Serene Grace, which is more focussed in Speed and Special Attack and knows the move Air Slash. (In Japan gamers can receive Shaymin via Wi-Fi for Pokemon Diamond / Pearl in movie theatres.)
* Giratina’s Origin form can only be used in the Torn World (like in the Pokemon movie) and it’s in another form somewhere else. It’s unknown if there will be an item to use to keep it in its Origin form, but the main method will be revealed next month. — Giratina’s Origin form ability is Levitate.
* There will be new sprites for each Pokemon, including Bidoof, Giratina’s Another form, and Shaymin’s Land form.

Translations by Serebii & Teknoman

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By going to EveryQuest Living Legacy, you can play EverQuest 1 and 2 for free this month. Living Legacy is a celebration of the millions of MMORPG players on PC and Mac who have adventured in EverQuest in the last nine years. Sony are trying to win you back with free play and item bundles.

EverQuest 1 perks:
* Log in now for free. Inactive EverQuest subscribers and trial accounts can play Secrets of Faydwer at no cost until July 25th, 2008.
* A unique in-game item bundle for returning players. Designed to get you right back in the fight. Claim the Bundles of Defiant Armor — Class and level specific armor upgrade.

EverQuest 2 perks:
* Free Rise of Kunark gameplay for inactive EverQuest 2 trial accounts and inactive subscribers (in good standing) at no cost until July 31st, 2008.
* Earn up to twenty months of free gameplay by recruiting friends who become EverQuest 2 subscribers.
* Claim a unique bundle of new in-game items upon initial log in.

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From EA’s Casual Label, Littlest Pet Shop pets come to life this October in the Littlest Pet Shop video game. Launching on the Wii, Nintendo DS (3 versions: Jungle, Garden, Winter), and PC, girls can explore three unique worlds as they discover their own magical Pet Shop. Littlest Pet Shop gives girls the opportunity to play with and collect 20 Littlest Pets on the Nintendo DS and 30 on the Wii and PC. Earn Kibble Coins to buy over 100 accessories for pets as well as tons of digital playsets in game from the 2008 toy-line. Players can play in either explore in free-play mode or in compete in more than 15 different fun and accessible mini-games.

It’s time for the Littlest Pet Shop animals to dance!

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Apple CEO Steve Jobs has said about the July 11 iPhone App Store launch that 25% of the first 500 applications at the store will be free. Of the commercial applications, 90% will be sold for $9.99 or less, and most interestingly for gamers is that he added a third of the first wave of applications will be iPhone games.

Here are the best choice games (both free and paid) out of the around 165 titles available. Read the list of recommended iPhone games in alphabetical order:

* Adventure: The Interactive Original (adventure) - FREE
* Aurora Feint: The Beginning (puzzle) - FREE
* Aqua Forest (puzzle) - $7.99
* Bejeweled 2 (puzzle) - $9.99
* Bomberman Touch: The Legend Of Mystic Bomb (action) - $9.99
* Bubble Bash (puzzle) - $7.99
* Chess & Backgammon Classics (board) - $9.99
* Chimp’s Ahoy (action) - $9.99
* Chopper (action) - $7.99
* Code Runner - FREE Read more…

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Dragon Age: Origins is an all-new game from Bioware and EA! It will be released before April 2009.

Unlike many of BioWare’s previous titles, Dragon Age: Origins is not based on a pre-existing franchise; the game mechanics and setting are being developed by BioWare specifically for this game. Dragon Age: Origins also utilizes a new game engine named Eclipse. It has not been confirmed if it will feature a toolset for creation of fan-made content, and while multiplayer was initially planned, the focus of development is on the single-player campaign and multiplayer remains unconfirmed. BioWare co-CEO Ray Muzyka describes Dragon Age: Origins as a ’spiritual successor’ to the Baldur’s Gate series.

The setting is “medieval fantasy” and the plot has been described as “epic”, and involves saving the world and exploring the Kingdom of Ferelden. The developers have cited ‘realistic’ fantasy fiction such as George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones and fantasy paintings by artists such as Frank Frazetta as inspiration for the game - they aim for a dark, mature, gritty fantasy setting as opposed to the High Fantasy Dungeons and Dragons BioWare fans are used to.

GameTrailersTV got the exclusive reveal teaser trailer which you can view below. The trailer is entirely done using the in-game engine and although it doesn’t look like anything mind-blowing, keep in mind that this is just the TEASER. It will be very interesting to see what actual gameplay is like.

Read more…

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Punch-Out Wii and Animal Crossing Wii are rumored to be revealed at E3! This according to NGamer magazine and its sources. The British magazine teased a month before their newest issue that they had a big scoop on Nintendo’s internal development teams and the projects they were working on.

And this month’s brand new issue has the scoop on the two aforementioned titles. Although keep in mind this isn’t 100% confirmed, but anyone you talk to will tell you that these two titles are highly likely to be revealed at the show. Here is a quote from the mag:

“And if all goes to plan (and our sources haven’t played a mean trick on us), that hands-on coverage will be of Animal Crossing and Punch-Out!! Wii, aka Nintendo’s great hopes for 2008.”

They also say that Animal Crossing Wii has been finished for “a while” and although it isn’t an MMO per se, they suggest that it does still feature heavy use of online Wi-Fi Sharing, which presumes that it includes multiplayer play similar to that in Animal Crossing: Wild World for the DS.

As far as Punch-Out!! Wii is concerned, the mag claims that Nintendo will implement the use of not only the Wii Fit “Wii Balance Board“, but also the Wii Remote & Nunchuck for punching (naturally, given how Nintendo had it implemented in Wii Sports Boxing). You can only imagine the possibilities . . . . Wii Balance Board+Wii Remote & Nunchuck punching = Genius.

NGamer additionally had this to say . . .
“Sadly, we still can’t name the mystery game that has us more excited than any of the others on this page. Capcom promise to maul us into our graves should we spill the beans, despite the fact that by the time you’re reading this the game could well be announced. Needless to say, it’s worlds away from the fluffiness of Zack & Wiki”. Oh the intrigue!

Via N-Europe

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These are the ten officially revealed songs out the 80+ Rock Band 2 tracks that will be on the complete song list. Rock Band 2 will first be released on Xbox 360 in September, with a PlayStation 3 release following at the end of 2008.

The 10 songs confirmed by Harmonix:

1. “Ace of Spades” by Motörhead
2. “Everlong” by Foo Fighters
3. “Pinball Wizard” by The Who
4. “Panic Attack” by Dream Theater
5. “Any Way You Want It” by Journey
6. “Chop Suey” by System of a Down
7. “Kids in America” by The Muffs
8. “Give It Away” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. “Hello There” by Cheap Trick
10. “Pump It Up” by Elvis Costello

From all the songs on disc, from the first game and downloadable ones, you’ll be able to create your own setlists for quick-play sessions.

Watch the first Rock Band 2 gameplay video:

Both of the following leaked song lists have a lot of overlapping tracks. If you compare it to the above confirmed songs, you’ll see The Who’s song is missing from the first setlist and The Muffs’ song is missing from the second setlist, so make of it what you will.

Rock Band 2 Setlist 1:
Read more…

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Microsoft has announced that its “Bringing it Home” E3 initiative will start up this year on July 14. Through Xbox Live, gamers will be able to download various content from E3, including game trailers, news from the show floor, interviews, gamerpics, themes and demos, as they have done for past Microsoft Bringing It (E3) Home features. This effectively brings the show to you and all Xbox 360 fans who may not have a computer handy, want to watch the action on their TV screen or are simply casual gamers who would otherwise miss all the fun news and announcements. Of course, since it’s Microsoft and the Xbox 360 that means that you won’t be getting anything related to Nintendo or Sony.

But the most exciting part of this announcement includes the long awaited Too Human demo! This is the demo that Silicon Knights has promised would come out before the Too Human’s launch this August. Make sure to keep your eye out for the demo so that you can be the first on your block to try out one of this years most anticipated games.

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The latest issue of American gaming magazine Game Informer has the world premiere of the second Wolfenstein game (for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) after Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001).

Kintaro transcribed the below first details on the game and mentioned it’s a nice looking game with impressive lighting.

* Publisher: Activision, Developer: Raven Software / ID Software.
* Takes place in WWII against Nazi’s fully dabbling in the occult.
* BJ Blaskowitz (the hero) will also make use of supernatural powers.
* Game gives you a city in which the game takes place. Missions and quests take you through different parts. As you complete quests, more of the city opens up. Kind of a non-linear path.
* Set piece and randomly generated activity block your path.
* There is an AI resistance force that will assist you during the game at times. Likely similar to the resistance forces in Metal Gear Solid 4.
* You will also enter “The Shroud”, an alternate reality version of the city. A dimension in which the Nazi’s are drawing power from.
* For a few more tidbits, take a look at a year-old Return to Castle Wolfenstein 2 impressions from a motion-capture actress.

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What are the best-selling games in America, Japan, and Europe (UK) this week? Thanks to Amazon online sales data here are the games that are the most popular now.

Nintendo Wii
North America: 1. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo), 2. Wii Fit (Nintendo), 3. Rock Band Special Edition (EA Games), 4. Wii Play (Nintendo), 5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo).

Japan: 1. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo), 2. Wii Fit (Nintendo), 3. Tales of Symphonia: Ratatosk no Kishi (Namco), 4. BioHazard 0 (Capcom), 5. Wii Sports (Nintendo).

Europe: 1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo), 2. Wii Fit (Nintendo), 3. Big Beach Sports (THQ), 4. Wii Play (Nintendo), 5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (Activision).

Xbox 360
North America: 1. Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution (2K Games), 2. Unreal Tournament 3 (Midway), 3. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar), 4. Rock Band Special Edition (EA Games), 5. Battlefield: Bad Company (EA Games).

Japan: 1. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (Bandai), 2. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion — Xbox 360 Platinum Collection (Bethesda), 3. Battlefield: Bad Company (EA Games), 4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare — Map Download Special Limited Edition (Activision), 5. Test Drive Unlimited — Xbox 360 Platinum Collection (Microsoft).

Europe: 1. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar), 2. Top Spin 3 (2K Sports), 3. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (Activision), 4. Battlefield: Bad Company (EA Games), 5. Rock Band (EA Games).

PlayStation 3
North America: 1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Konami), 2. Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution (2K Games), 3. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (SCEA), 4. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar), 5. The Orange Box (EA Games).

Japan: 1. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (Bandai), 2. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare — Map Download Special Limited Edition (Activision), 3. Initial D: Extreme Stage (Sega), 4. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — Special Edition (Konami), 5. Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Spike).

Europe: 1. Buzz! Quiz TV with Buzzers (SCEE), 2. Top Spin 3 (2K Games), 3. Burnout Paradise (EA Games), 4. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Konami), 5. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar).

PlayStation 2 Read more…

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