Sometimes, the grass really is greener...

Okay, so the first installment of "The Game Gap" was a bit of a letdown. (To my credit, I had a pretty big article before I found out that most of the titles I'd written about had already been announced.) To make up for it, here's an extra-juicy update on the games that Japanese gamers will see at launch, and you won't.

Yes, it's a Midway title on GameCube. Budget-priced, too.

Midway Ships Classic Games Compilation Midway Arcade Treasures 2; 20 of Midway's All-Time Arcade Classics Available Now For Only 20 Bucks

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 11, 2004--Midway Games Inc. (NYSE:MWY), a leading interactive entertainment industry publisher and developer, today announced... Read more...

No GameCube software currently announced from the developer, but it could be forthcoming.

MIDWAY ACQUIRES INEVITABLE ENTERTAINMENT

Acclaimed Development Studio behind ‘AREA 51’ Renamed Midway Studios - Austin

CHICAGO, IL – October 11, 2004 - Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY) announced today that it has acquired Austin, Texas-based Inevitable Entertainment Inc., the development... Read more...

Get your role-playing on.

Did You Know Mario is Moving?

Mario Declares the World is Flat,

Decides on a Move to the Flattest City

To commemorate Columbus Day, video game icon Mario(TM) has taken a

contrarian position by declaring that the world is flat. As a result,

Mario has stated his intention to relocate to the country's flattest

You already know that FFIII will make its US debut on the DS. See what else they're cooking up for the system.

Yesterday we learned that Square Enix was bring the former half's legendary Famicom classic Final Fantasy III to the Nintendo DS. Along with that announcement, SE also talked about some of their plans for the unit at Nintendo's press event in Japan.

Aside from III, Square Enix producer Akitoshi... Read more...

Single-card multiplayer and the possibility of demo games and interactive movie content.

During his speech yesterday in Japan, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata spoke about several concepts of the wireless functionality of the DS.

He began by restating the DS's capability of playing multiplayer games with only a single game card:

"The DS's wireless connection isn't just a substitute... Read more...

Take a break from all the DS news with these new gameplay movies from Call of Duty: Finest Hour.

You saw the new screenshots earlier today (didn't you?) and you'll soon be reading our big preview update (won't you?), so be sure to check out these Call of Duty: Finest Hour movies for completion's sake. Left-click to download!

Vignette #2 (14 MB, Quicktime Format)

British Campaign (3 MB, Windows Media Format)

Check out new movies of Super Mario 64 DS and Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt.

Along with the barrage of game announcements and screenshots today, Nintendo has released two gameplay movies of their Nintendo DS launch titles. Left-click below to download them.

Super Mario 64 DS Movie (4 MB, Quicktime format)

Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt Movie (3.5 MB, Quicktime format)

Remember that poll Square Enix ran in Japan?

Along with Nintendo's own hefty game announcements, Nintendo's presentation confirmed what was previously speculated: Square Enix is bringing Final Fantasy III to Nintendo DS.

Many of Square's classic RPGs have been remade over the years, but no version of Final Fantasy III (in Japan) has ever graced American stores. No Japanese launch timeframe was disclosed, nor were any plans of an international release.

Nintendo displays its Nintendo DS game pages to all.

Nintendo has finally opened up its full Japanese Nintendo DS website, revealing more insight to the line-up, including which games will come out with the system's Japanese launch on December 2nd. The confirmed first party launch titles are:

Made in Wario

Super Mario 64 DS

Pokemon Dash (a new Pokemon racing game)

$30 per game, 8 to 10 games at launch.

USA Today has an article up, written by Steven Kent, detailing some information on the US launch of the DS. The DS will launch with games priced at $29.99. There will be between eight and ten launch games including: Mario 64 DS, The Urbz, Madden, and Spider-Man 2. A new titled named Asphalt DS is also mentioned.

Through the power of alliteration, you can get a nice bonus if you're looking forward to the sequel.

The Prince of Persia: Warrior Within is due out on November 16. For those who can't get enough of this wonderful game series, starting this Friday, October 9, if you plunk down a $5 deposit at your local GameStop, Electronic Boutique or Game Crazy shop, you'll score this lovely item:

It's... Read more...

Goku versus Kenshin? Who knows...

Multiple web sites are reporting that according to Japanese manga Shonen Jump, Nintendo is co-developing a Nintendo DS title called Jump Super Stars. The game will feature various characters from the magazine’s many mangas in one action fighting game.

Characters confirmed include Naruto Uzumaki,... Read more...

TY the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue is ready to ship next week.

TY the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue has gone Gold!

EA and KROME Studios are pleased to share the news of TY the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue going gold on all platforms (PS 2, Xbox, GC and GBA). This title will ship to North American retail outlets starting on Tuesday, October 12, following in Europe on Friday, October 29 and Australia on Monday, November 8 under a co-publishing deal by EA and KROME Studios.

Andriy Shevchenko, Fernando Morientes, and Oswald Sanchez to grace this year's box art.

ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO, FERNANDO MORIENTES AND OSWALDO SANCHEZ ANNOUNCED AS COVER ATHLETES FOR EA’S FIFA SOCCER 2005

Soccer Stars from Around the World Endorse Best-Selling EA SPORTS Soccer Franchise

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Monday, October 4th, 2004 – Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:... Read more...

PGC attends the sold-out show at The Wiltern Theater.

Sunday night, Nintendo’s Fusion Tour stopped at The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles with a rather large caravan of tour busses and semi-trucks. We attended to see what Nintendo has cooking on this tour, and were pleased to eventually learn that the show had been sold out.

As we drove up,... Read more...

Namco has posted Japanese sites for Pac Pix and Mr. Driller DS.

Namco recently opened new sites for both Pac Pix and Mr. Driller DS.

The Pac Pix site gives a basic rundown of how the game works, showing how to draw Pac Man, and how to make him turn directions. You can also make Pac Man stop by touching him with the stylus after you've drawn him. Completely... Read more...

A new character is revealed, and a bunch of frighteningly beautiful screenshots are now up on Capcom's personal webspace.

The official Resident Evil 4 website has been updated with a few interesting tidbits of info for those who can't get enough of it.

A new character profile has been added. Apparently, the village that Leon makes his way to in the game has a chief. The individual featured in the profile is also... Read more...

Nintendo’s Japanese Mario Tennis page is up, showing off some of the game’s characters, the control system, and in-game footage.

Today Nintendo posted its Mario Tennis GC website for Japan. Along with an explanation of its simple controls (borrowing from the N64 and GBC games) and the different character types, the site has screenshots and a video featurette showing off the game’s different modes and courts.

Interesting... Read more...

Four years after the game's release, a new game mode is unearthed. Dust off your Nintendo 64!

Well, who would have thought it? Turns out that after all these years, there was still something hiding in Banjo-Tooie. The secret is actually a new game mode called "Bottles' Revenge". In it, the evil spirit of Bottles the Mole follows the players throughout the world of Banjo-Tooie as they play.... Read more...