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Welcome to the latest edition of Pachter Predicts, where Wedbush Morgan analyst and my sworn adversary Michael Pachter makes his predictions for the past month’s console sales here in the United States. For the second straight month, Pachter has predicted that the PlayStation 3 outsold the Xbox 360. (Although last month his prediction turned out wrong, as the 360 had a 5,000 unit edge over the PS3.)

Here are his predictions, with last month’s numbers in parentheses:

Wii: 600,000 (721,000)
PS3: 290,000 (257,000)
Xbox 360: 275,000 (262,000)
PS2: 160,000 (216,000)
DS: 550,000 (698,000)
PSP: 235,000 (297,000)

If Pachter turns out to be right, it looks like the 360 and PS3 won’t have seen a major boost in sales as many have thought they would. He attributes his predicted higher sales of the DS and Wii to their greater availability.

As for Grand Theft Auto IV, he expects it to have sold 3.3 million units in its first six days in the US alone, and also notes that he expects 20 games to have cracked the 100,000 unit mark in April, compared with only nine last year.

Those of you who still find yourself looking for a Wii, Pachter thinks that situation might be soon resolving itself: “We believe that Nintendo has diverted a significant portion of its available supply to Europe since April 2007, as the weakening dollar has made US sales less profitable for the company… We expect the supply situation will begin to improve over the next several months. We expect a surge in supply in the US for Wii Fit’s May 21 launch here, and believe we could see as many as 900,000 Wii units show up at retail this month (May).”

via Next Gen

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In addition to all of the gorgeous screenshots from Rare’s two new games, Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise and Banjo-Kazooie 3, several other games have been discovered, although the details are shaky at best. The first and only simple one to wrap your head around is Scene It? 2. No real need for an explanation there, although I’d hope that if this is simply an expansion pack to the original that there will be some sort of DLC alternative where you can simply download this new content. But don’t count on it.

The other two games are called Ninja Blade and Lips. Your guess is as good as mine, but here goes my prediction: Ninja Blade will be something related to that rumored Xbox 360 Wiimote-rip off, which will work where you swing the 360mote like a sword. Lips will have something to do with the Xbox Live Vision cam where it tracks your lips.

Okay, that second guess is pretty stupid, but what the hell else could something called Lips be?

You didn’t think those first screens of Banjo-Kazooie 3 were the only thing uncovered by some intrepid NeoGAF members, did you? Good, because next up we’ve got a sequel to one of my personal favorite Xbox 360 games, Viva Pinata. Subtitled Trouble in Paradise, it looks like you’ll be tending to more gardens with a similar interface to the original game.

The one thing I pulled from these screenshots was that there is both a shovel and a watering can that seem to be working simultaneously. Could that mean we’ll be seeing some sort of co-op mode? We should be finding out the official word this week. In the meantime, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for more screenshots.

Microsoft will be holding a Gamers’ Day event this week where a number of games will be unveiled, but thanks to a PR screw up, the internet is on fire this morning with, among other things, the first screenshots of Banjo-Kazooie 3.

You can click on the thumbnails below to get a look at them, or head to NeoGAF, whose members you can thank for tracking down all of these wonderful things.

It’s important to note, though, that even while the screenshots might make Banjo 3 appear to be a racing game, Rare has clarified that the game is most certainly not a racing game.

We haven’t revealed the gameplay mechanic yet,” George Kelion, Rare community manager, told Eurogamer. “It’s not a racing game, and people are honestly better off waiting until tomorrow when we are going to be talking about it extensively before drawing their own conclusions.

“The honest truth is that people don’t know the half of it yet. The game is not just a graphical showcase.”

It certainly could be; the game looks absolutely gorgeous. I’m excited to hear exactly what Rare’s got in store, but these are good enough for now.

As promised, WiiWare has finally launched today. Wii owners can now head to the Wii Shop Channel and start downloading any of the six previously announced launch titles. With the launch of WiiWare, there won’t be any releases on the Virtual Console today, but the normal Wii-kly Update schedule will resume next week.

Only one of the six launch games matches the releases that Japan saw when WiiWare launched over there, so there’s a good chance you don’t know much about several of the games. That’s where Game|Life comes in, as they’ve posted a WiiWare launch guide which should be able to help you decide how to spend your Wii Points.

Be sure to come back and let us know what you think of the service and any games you buy.

Twenty Sided has an article up on how have flawed main characters can be fun. The example used here is the lead character from BioWare’s Jade Empire. For those of you who have always wanted to play it but haven’t got around to it; you might want to skip this article. However for those gamers who understand the inside joke, this is a fun piece of truism.

Personal, I like a little roughness in both my NPCs and player characters. It makes them more realistic and easier to relate to. It also helps to build tension in a story. If everything single obstacle is too easily surmounted, I tend to lose interest quickly.  This especially applies to RPGs and games with RPG elements.

The unstoppable Kratos retains a human touch as he mourns the loss of his family. Similarly, the new Viking: Battle for Asgard features a less than perfect main character as well. Not all player characters are as clueless as the lead character in Jade Empire, but it’s nice to have three dimensional characters that have some room for growth.

via Twenty Sided

Flashcube Studios has released a game trailer for it’s upcoming action platformer Spectraball. This game will have players navigating a series of platforms and traps in a variety of 3D environments. The physics-based gameplay footage is set to electronic music and colorful courses that one of my friends would describe as “trippin.” It’s no geometry wars but it looks like a reasonably challenging and entertaining diversion.

Spectraball is scheduled for release in 2008.
via FileFront

Ever since the Windows Vista OS came out; gamers have been complaining about it and going to great lengths to get it to behave in the way they expected it too. The latest guide up on ExtremeTech shows PC gamers how to bypass Vista 64-bit limitations.

The author gives gamers who haven’t already used this solution instructions on how to run 32-bit Vista on 64-bit Vista in a virtual machine. This solves a few known problems with 64-bit Vista including the author’s difficulties with Nikon RAW codec or getting VPN to work with older Cisco concentrators. The article is fairly technical, but also very usful for those gamers running into problems with Vista 64-bit. Get the complete run down on ExtremeTech.

Namco Bandai has released a new Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2 trailer for the PSP. The footage shows off the game’s unique combination of one-on-one combat and interactive storytelling. It’s all about team building using new jutsu, secret techniques and characters to defend the Hidden Leaf Village from the forces of the mysterious Phantom Fortress. The “extreme ninja action” is looking good on the PSP. Fans of the original shouldn’t be disappointed

Gamers can pick up Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: Phantom Fortress for the PSP in North America on June 24th, 2008.

via FileFront

Aside from World of Warcraft, the biggest MMO of 2007 and so far this year isn’t one you would name off the top of your head. According to the author of an article up on Eurogamer; it’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The piece goes on to defend the position that although CoD4 isn’t an MMO in the strictest sense of the definition, it does share many of the same gameplay elements that typify an MMO.

Call of Duty 4 proves that it’s possible to take some of the things that MMOs do right and distil them for a game that wouldn’t traditionally be seen as an MMO. The potency of the idea, even in this form, is obvious; the drive to play just a little bit more, because there’s a reward waiting just up ahead, is an incredibly powerful and addictive force for players

I can actually agree with the author on most of his points, and the idea isn’t one that hasn’t been presented before. The success of MMOs is changing the way traditional video games are being designed. One of the latest examples of this trend is the multi-player mode in RockStar’s Grand Theft Auto IV. I think we’re going to see the games industry moving ever closer to this formula as gamers demand more of a social element to their gaming experience.

via Eurogamer

Electronic Arts has released a new trailer for Battlefield: Bad Company. The video features the bad boys of B Company; a wayward band of soldiers that are more interested in Gold and personal financial gain than the glory of battle or patriotism. There should be a demo coming up soon for this single-player and multiplayer first person shooter.

Of course since Battlefield: Bad Company is a game for Mature gamers or at least seventeen years old; I can’t include the trailer here. Just follow the link to FileFront, and mind the age gate.

The CHiL Semiconductor is set to streamline your overclocking capabilities on your favorite gaming PC. The product line digitally maximizes the process of converting the power supply for use.

“Digital power has been this buzzword for a bunch of years, where it equals state of the art, which equals high cost, which equals we can’t really use it,” said Larry Spaziani, vice president of marketing for Chil. “We’re bringing digital power for the mainstream computer market, and with it bringing features and cost benefits.”

“We intend to shake up the motherboard market,” Spaziani said.

Typically between your electrical socket and your PC; 20 percent of the power is lost in the power supply, and another 25 percent in conversion on the motherboard in the form of excess heat which then requires more power to cool. Chil aims to simplify the design of motherboards; eliminating a substantial chunk of passive components. It will reduce the number of capacitors needed and digitally regulate power as well. Theoretically, it can improve improve the power conversion efficiency by 3 to 10 percent.

via ExtremeTech

The Drawn to Life : SpongeBob SquarePants Edition Trailer is ready for viewing. SpongeBob’s evil creation DoodleBoB has taken over Bikini Bottom and it’s up to players to take it back. Gamers will draw their own characters, tools and vehicles to use in this action platformer. Here’s a look at the inaugural trailer:

You can catch DtL: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition on the Nintendo DS third quarter 2008.

via FileFront

Rich Briggs, a Producer on EA’s Dead Space puts the S-E in SEXY with his work on Scripted Events and Focus Groups. These are the major building blocks of the Dead Space storyline. Briggs has a colorful analogy on the roll of SE in the game.

Dead Space is a horrific roller coaster ride that we want to take you on. The framework of the coaster is already there, as our core gameplay mechanics will drive your second to second enjoyment. The SEs are the paint, the decorations, and the lights. They are the dark tunnel you plummet through, and the plumes of water that spray up as you skim along the water. It’s the name of the experience, which is why roller coasters are called “The Viper” or “Death Rail” as opposed to “Mobile Cart Precariously Connected to Wooden Tracks.”

The biggest challenge for the development team is making sure that you can’t break the SE moments in the game. They occur while you still control the main character, and while they want you to experience these as spine tingling episodes, they don’t want to take away your control, like say Dirge of Cerberus.

Dead Space is scheduled for release in North America and Europe October 2008.

via Dead Space

Funcom has issued another Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Insiders trailer. Insider 3 talks about Crafting and Citadeling. The gamplay footage is from the beautiful region of Poitain, a lush and fertile region, rich in game and natural resources. Crafting and Citadeling actual works nicely together as crafters that belong to guilds will have distinct advantages over solo characters. For example guilds can build specialized crafting structures like Alchemy Towers that give its alchemists special recipes that other characters of their types won’t have access to.

via FileFront

The track record of useful accessories to come out of Nyko is all over the place. The Nyko Intercooler has often been blamed for causing overheating problems with the Xbox 360; the Wiimote Charge Station has been absolutely wonderful for me; and the Nunchuk Wireless Adapter is just downright silly, if you ask me.

But their newest accessory for Wii looks to be quite useful for anyone planning on picking up Wii Fit or the Wii Balance Board — the Nyko Energy Pak will fit right into the Balance Board’s battery compartment and provide you with up to 30 hours of balance acts, and will also allow you to charge and play at the same time.

For $20, it sounds like this is a pretty good bet for anyone that wants to save themselves from the woes of batteries. The Energy Pak (why does it have to be called “Pak”?) releases on May 19.

via Wii Fanboy

This Monday will finally see the launch of WiiWare in North America, and I have here the list of game’s that will be available on the service from day one. There won’t be any Virtual Console releases this Monday, but hopefully that’s only because of WiiWare’s launch; it’ll be nice to regularly get both new WiiWare and Virtual Console games in the same week.

On with the list:

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (Square Enix, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,500 Wii Points): Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King takes a legendary franchise and launches it into the realm of simulation gaming. Players are challenged to rebuild a kingdom, leading its young king on a path of discovery through an adventure bristling with mystery and intrigue.

LostWinds (Frontier Development, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): A fresh, enchanting platform adventure that puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand – from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze. You’ll wield your Wii Remote controller to power Toku’s jumps and glides, suspend and smash enemies, meet friends and solve puzzles using LostWinds’ novel, intuitive and playful control system.

Defend your Castle (XGen Studios, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): Defend your Castle takes place on a grassy plain surrounded by invaders. You are the commander of your castle, and it is your duty to fling the invading enemies sky-high, watching them plummet to their demise. As you progress, add powerful spells and upgrades to your arsenal for repelling the attacks. How long can you hold them off?

Pop (Nnooo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Pop bubbles to score points and stop the timer from running out. Pop can be enjoyed by anyone – casual gamers can simply play to pop bubbles and keep the game moving, whereas advanced players will need to pick their shots rapidly and accurately and generate combos to maximize their score.

V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack (High Voltage Software, Inc., 1-4 players, Rated T for Teen – Simulated Gambling, 700 Wii Points): V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack re-creates the casino experience, with fully animated players and a realistic Las Vegas dealer. Single players can increase their bankrolls, while multiple players can engage in a head-to-head mini-blackjack tournament.

TV Show King (Gameloft, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): TV Show King transforms your living room into a real TV quiz show studio where you’ll face the challenge of answering more than 3,000 questions across six different categories. Compete against family and friends and use your Wii Remote controller in original ways to make it to the finals to see who can win the greatest amount of cash in one final, deciding duel.

100 Wii Points translates to $1, so the math isn’t too difficult to figure out. I’m still trying to decide on what I’ll be buying (if anything) from this first batch of WiiWare titles. Does anything immediately catch your eye?

Those who make the claim that PC gaming is dying or already dead might want to take a look at some new numbers that the NPD Group have released. The value of online subscriptions in the US from games like World of Warcraft exceed even Dr. Evil’s fantasies, to the tune of more than $1 billion a year. This number is based on data gathered from October 2007 to March 2008, which also reveals that 11 million people subscribe to online games every month.

“Now that NPD can estimate the value of the subscription market, it’s clear that there is a sizable chunk of revenue being generated by PC gaming beyond what is reflected in retail sales,” said NPD analyst Anita Frazier. Certainly, this bodes well for the PC gaming community and developers who remain interested in the platform. But, success doesn’t come easy; looking at the top PC MMOs in terms of subscribers in Q1 2008 show that there’s some extremely stiff competition at the top.

MMO/PC Games:

1. World of Warcraft
2. RuneScape
3. Lord of the Rings Online
4. Final Fantasy XI
5. City of Heroes

Gaming Websites:

1. Pogo.com
2. Realarcade.com
3. Bigfishgames.com
4. Gametap.com
5. Disney.com

Demographics were another area that was looked at by NPD, which show that MMO players are primarily males under the age of 35, while the majority of those on gaming websites like Pogo are females over the age of 35.

The problem with tapping this market, of course, is the significant investment it takes to even attempt to become a successful MMO. Coupled with the high risk of failure, it’s not likely that you’ll see every developer around trying to tap this market — at least not at this point.

via GI.biz

It’s funny to think about how things would have played out if things were the same as a year ago. With Microsoft, Moore would’ve either dismissed Home after seeing another delay or politely talked about how he’s interested in trying it. Instead, he’s now publicly voiced his disappointment as he seems very excited about the prospect of EA Sports taking advantage of Sony’s online hub.

When asked about the possibility of using Home, Moore told Eurogamer, “Yeah; I just wish it would ship. I [previously] questioned it a little bit, whether I’d want to wander around there. Phil Harrison showed me a demo - it’s very cool, but let’s go already. And so I’m disappointed that it’s been pushed back a little bit again.

“But I really hope it gets going and becomes that portal to the PlayStation Network and we can utilise it. But boy, I just wish we’d get going.”

I think a lot of PlayStation 3 gamers that are looking forward to Home (myself included) share that sentiment. 10-year life cycle or not, let’s get moving, Sony.

Microsoft’s certification process is a pretty long-winding and complicated one, so who really knows with them how long something will take to pass through it. What we do know is that Vigilante 8 Arcade is essentially complete and has just finished its pre-certification with Microsoft.

Isopod expects it to be no longer than 2-4 weeks, and then the game will simply need a release slot — they’re guessing early June, but it could be sooner or later depending on the release schedule.

There are plans for “some neat DLC” which I’m going to go out on a limb and guess include new vehicles, maps, and/or modes. Daring, I know, but that’s just the kind of guy I am.