I’m at a loss to really explain what happened in April; if you’re anything other than a Nintendo fan, you’re not going to be pleased with the hardware sales figures. Not a single system other than Nintendo’s duo managed to crack 200,000 units for the month of April in the US, according to the NPD Group.

April 2008 Hardware Sales (March numbers in parentheses):

• Nintendo Wii - 714,200 (721,000)
• Nintendo DS - 414,800 (698,000)
• PlayStation Portable - 192,700 (297,000)
• Xbox 360 - 188,000 (262,000)
• PlayStation 3 - 187,100 (257,000)
• PlayStation 2 - 124,400 (216,000)

Talk about a 50-50 split for the PS3 and 360 here in the US; just 900 units separated the two systems. Oddly enough, the rankings turned out to be exactly the same as in March, which is, in a way, good if you’re in the market for a Wii as Michael Pachter’s prediction that the Wii shortage would be resolving itself seems to have come true. Nearly 1.5 million consoles sold in two months means the system is out there in fairly large quantities.

Unfortunately, my archrival’s other predictions weren’t quite so accurate. The 360 and PS3 sold roughly 90k and 100k less, respectively, than he thought. But really, who would have thought the numbers would be so low this month?

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As if the Bayonetta trailer Jonathan posted yesterday from Platinum Games wasn’t cool enough, today we have another trailer from the Japanese gaming company from the upcoming Wii exclusive MadWorld.

This third-person action has a unique black and white style that straddles graphic novels and 3D worlds with blood red splashes - think Sin City. In the game, you will battle opponents using various weapons and items found within the environment, such as chainsaws and street signs, while “sports commentary” is going on the background - think Running Man. Containing both humor and over-the-top violence, MadWorld is definitely going to be a must have for the Wii and should help scour away the squeaky clean image of the console, which is just plain awesome. I can’t stop watching the trailer actually.

MadWorld is expected to launch in North America sometime in the early part of 2009.

Coming to the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 is Konami’s Rock Revolution. Described as an “unprecedented, authentic music-based video game that will re-define the rhythm genre”, the game will come with its own drums. You can also “rock out” with the bass, guitar and vocals. Take THAT Harmonix!

According to Konami, Rock Revolution will be available with the most realistic drum peripheral on the market when it launches for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Featuring a supposedly extensive music selection on the game disc, along with a wide variety of downloadable songs available at launch, the game will also have single player modes as well as the prerequisite multiplayer.

The Wii version will be quite different from its Microsoft and Sony counterparts due to its “interactive use of the controls” where you will have the definitive “air-drum and air-guitar experience”plus the DS version will let you use the stylus for rhythm matching sessions.

Rock Revolution is scheduled to launch this Fall, and to quite honest with you, I cannot see anyone choosing the Wii version over the others if all you get to do is “air drum” and “air guitar” - I mean, “air guitar” and “air drums” what a crock… I am not paying over $40 for something I can see a mullet coiffed redneck in a beat up trans am do at a stop light here in my hometown.

I hope to the gaming gods that I read the press release wrong, I really do. Anyway, check out the trailer for yourself.

Via: Press Release

Read the full article

While Nintendo might be trying to get the indie developer crowd’s attention, mainstream developers have been taking advantage of WiiWare, too. Next Gen spoke with a few developers to see what they thought of the young platform and how it stacks up with the competition.

Why did you choose to develop the game for WiiWare rather than Xbox Live Arcade or PlayStation Network?

David Braben, founder of Frontier: It was the way that you control the wind that was important and the control of the Wii was absolutely defined by that. We didn’t immediately think, ‘ah yes, it’s a WiiWare game,’ but we did think ‘oh, it’s a Wii game.’ There are games that use two Wii controls, where you have button combinations across the Wiimote and the Nunchuck, and that’s something that feels quite uncomfortable in my opinion. Then there are games that use the Wiimote purely as a pointer and don’t use the Nunchuck at all, but what we’re doing is subtly different in the sense that you’ve got one character controlled by the Wiimote, which is the wind, and the other where you’re directly controlling the character talking, and so it feels very natural to have the two controllers separated.

From a development point of view WiiWare is great. It means we can take bigger risks, we can experiment with new control mechanisms at less financial and commercial risk and I think that’s a fantastic thing.

Dave Grossman, Telltale Games design director: I do think that the Wii lends itself in particular to the kind of idea based gameplay that we do although ultimately I think we’d like it to be on all of the downloadable channels. The interface is meant to be very, very simple. You don’t need tons and tons of buttons but if you have something you can just point with that’s just great, so it was kind of an easier mindset for us to be on the Wii then perhaps on the other platforms, but obviously our games are meant to be simple and have a broad appeal and would probably be good on any of the downloadable channels.

Bill Swartz, Mastiff: The Wiimote was the killer, period. Does Xbox have a Wiimote? Honestly, we wanted to do a Wii game, we wanted to do a WiiWare game, that was really very much in the front of our minds, and we wanted to do something with a license attached. Tony Hawk was already taken. No seriously, I really didn’t want to go out there and just make up some random sport by myself, you know, let’s do a Marble Madness rip-off because no one’s done one for six months. That was really what we didn’t want to do. We wanted to do something with a license attached but the last thing I wanted to do was try to be a mini EA or a mini Activision or a mini Ubisoft because we’d get creamed. So we were looking for a sort of minor but cool license that had some value that would let us use the controls in a unique way and ideally something that hadn’t been done before. No one has done an eating game - well, at least an eating game like ours, and it has the advantage because it is so hand to mouth and that is a really neat way to use a Wii control.

I wonder what would happen if the 360 really did get its own Wiimote rip off. You can see more about what they had to say over at Next Gen.

Shigeru Miyamoto thinks the most unique products have always come out of America. That’s surprising, coming from the man behind a game like Pikmin. But he was adamant in saying it, when speaking about the launch of WiiWare and the future of indie developers.

“I think America has always been better at creating unique products,” he said. Nintendo is looking to have a platform where indie games can succeed by opening itself to even the smallest of developers.

“Here in the United States, you have these independent developers who have managed to get the skills and the training and the development, and also have managed to get access to the technology and the hardware needed to develop it,” he said. “They’re able to let their own personality and their own kind of unique interests really flourish in the games that they’re creating.”

Reggie Fils-Aime explained that there’s no oversight by Nintendo, and all they do is insure the game isn’t buggy and has an ESRB rating. It’s an interesting approach, but not all that different from the “Nintendo Seal,” which is devoid of any sort of quality assurance.

via Game|Life

Along with its announcements regarding the financial results for fiscal year 2008, Electronic Arts has also revealed that Sony systems dominated EA’s sales in the fourth quarter.

Surprisingly, the PlayStation 2 led the way with $166 million worth of sales, followed closely by the PlayStation 3 with $152 million. On the other consoles, EA did $128 million worth of sales, and just $75 million on Wii. Combined, the two Sony systems accounted for 61% of EA console games sold, which is a pretty substantial amount.

This news certainly bodes well for the continued move towards making the PlayStation 3 the lead platform on multiplatform games.

via GI.biz

No, this story has nothing to do with KISS. It’s got more in common with South Park, actually.

You probably wouldn’t have guessed it by looking at their financials, but Electronic Arts produced a total of 15 games that went double platinum — selling two million copies — in fiscal year 2008. That’s up from ten in fiscal year 2007, and is helping EA to declare itself the number one publisher across all platforms, with a 19% share of sales in North America and 20% in Europe.

EA also boasted that it was the number one third party publisher on the Wii in Europe (they really had to qualify that, didn’t they?), with a 15% share of sales on the system. That’s up from 7% the previous year. They also managed an 11% share in North America on Wii.

But as you already know, EA still ended up losing $454 million in the full fiscal year, compared with a profit of $76 million the year before. For more on that story, see our previous coverage.

via GI.biz

Lost Winds is becoming favorite of WiiWare users and looking at how pretty the trailer are I can see why. Lost Winds, 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 a novel, intuitive and playful control system.

For more on this WiiWare title, click here.

Telltale Games has released new details about the first episode of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People. The episode, titled “Homestar Ruiner,” has Strong Bad causing Homestar Runner to lose the epic “Race to the End of the Race.” His plan backfires however when Homestar Runner takes up residence in his home, leaving Strong Bad to try and find a way to get him out of his house. Aside from the story though, Strong Bad will also go about his usual daily activities: checking e-mail, playing the arcade classic Snake Boxer 5, and such. The series creators, Mike and Matt Chapman, have been working very closely with the development team to ensure that the game draws on the same style and humor as their online cartoons. And with Telltale Game, developers of the new Sam and Max games, behind the reigns, you can probably expect this to be one hilarious adventure title. The video above shows a pre-race conversation between Strong Bad and Homestar Runner, and you can check out a few screens for the game here.

Via Press Release

Ahead of last month’s NPD numbers being released, Microsoft has announced that the Xbox 360 is the first console this generation to surpass 10 million units sold in the United States. Global sales have now topped 19 million, which Microsoft claims is more than either the PS3 or Wii has sold. That’s what a year’s head start will do for you, I guess.

“This year will be the largest in the history of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad,” said Don Mattrick, Microsoft senior VP of Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. (phew) “History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry.”

The press release also boasted the 360’s leading attach rate, naturally. But with enough optimism to make a Brett Favre comeback seem like a good idea (that cynicism literally just killed half of Wisconsin), it’s definitely a big achievement for Microsoft. They’re going to need to work hard to fend off the competition and maintain the lead their head start provided them with.

Recently, a demo for LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures was released for the PC and it left console owners hoping for a version to hit their systems soon. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is not going to happen.

According to Eurogamer, an Activision representative told the site that a console demo is not in the works or will there be one at all. So, if you are reading this, that means you have access to a PC, which means that you can still play a demo and that should give you an idea if you want it for your console, so try not to be so glum about it.

You can get the demo by clicking on the badge below.

MySims Kingdom, the next experience from the creators of MySims, will be launching exclusively on the Wii and Nintendo DS this Fall. The game sets you on a story of adventure, discovery and exploration to help King Roland and his subjects revitalize the Kingdom.

In the Wii version, King Roland needs your help to make the Kingdom a better place. Throughout this tale to bring the Kingdom back to its former glory, you must help new and old friends alike, discover new lands and build to the limit of your imagination. Starting in The Capital, the center of your story-telling, you can check out the Castle, explore this first land and begin to meet your first set of new friends, including King Roland, Princess Butter, and the Wizard Marlon. Find out more of what awaits you here and then get in your boat to sail to many more lands on the horizon.

Throughout your journey new characters, lands, and clever new contraptions will be revealed. Construct and do everything from tending your pigs to finding treasure chests. Newly-added building options will help you accomplish the tasks you’re challenged with along the way, including building broken bridges. In true MySims fashion, everything is customizable, allowing every creation within your world to have a signature look.

In the Nintendo DS version, MySims Kingdoms adds a new chapter to the saga, challenging you to help the King thwart the plans of evil in a far flung corner of the Kingdom. Many new activities and mini-games are included to help you persuade the King that your island is the ultimate royal destination.

There is a lot more to discover in regions beyond The Capital, so stay tuned for more characters, contraptions and lands that are yet to be revealed.

Via: Press Release

Some new screens have surfaced for the new WiiWare title from Square Enix.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as King takes up where the original Crystal Chronicles on GameCube left off, gamers will play Leo the Little King, a member of the Clavat-race with special powers called “The Architect”. This special power comes from the crystals and you will use them to build a new country in the barren lands. To use “The Architect” special powers, you must acquire skills found in dungeons and instead of exploring them yourself - you send mages and warriors to do the dirty work for you.

Storyline:

According to legend, a deserted town now serves as the lifeless reminder of a once powerful kingdom. The young son of an exiled king reaches this land after a long journey, finding only an abandoned castle – and a magic crystal. Though tarnished by years of neglect, the crystal has maintained its luminous glow and bestows upon the boy the power of architek, the ability to manifest memories into reality. With the help of loyal servants and audacious adventurers, the new king dutifully prepares to rebuild his people’s homeland in this new realm.

Features:

• Scenario created by Motomu Toriyama, the acclaimed director of the upcoming FINAL FANTASY XIII.
• Groundbreaking graphics optimized for the Wii enable players to journey through a world filled with memorable characters and architectural splendor.
• Rebuild a nation by building houses and shops, carefully considering the best interests of the citizens. If the player’s nation regains its former glory, the secrets of the land may be revealed.
• Enlist adventurers with varying levels, jobs and profiles to carry out dangerous missions in return for rewards.
• Be mindful of the passage of time, and plan each day accordingly in order to efficiently carry out construction efforts.

For more screens, click here.

You just gotta love the NeoGAF forums for their timely information updates, and spoilers too.

Today, they have posted some information that is supposedly in the June issue of “Game Informer” regarding Guitar Hero IV - and since I have not received mine in the mail yet I cannot back them up; plus we have zero info from Activision or Neversoft regarding this information, so please take this with a grain of salt until it can be considered reliable. Of course, NeoGAF is usually spot on, so just continue reading and let the speculation begin.

Here are the goods:

Guitar Hero 4 (PS3, 360, Wii, PS2)

• Create a song. Although these exclude vocals due to storage and possible copyright issues.
• You’ll be able to name your song as well as creating album art. After you’ve done all that you can upload it to GH Tunes where anyone can download it.
• You’ll be limited to 5 songs at first. But depending on the ratings you get you’ll possibly be able to upload 10 or more.
• The song sharing mode will be in the Wii and PS2 versions also, but GI says it’s unlikely that it’ll be as robust as the PS3 and 360 versions.
• Drums, bass, vocals guitar
• Create a rocker
• Create a guitar and drums
• All songs will be master tracks
• They don’t want to discuss specifics on track listing out of fear of being scooped by the competition. However they confirmed 4 bands: Van Halen, The Eagles, Linkin Park and Sublime.
• A new guitar designed by Red Octane that includes a new input mechanic that’ll “impact the way you play GH in the future”.
• GI saw see through notes while playing that Neversoft said was the new input mechanic and that they were trying to patent.

To be honest with you, all of this sounds good to me, especially Van Halen and the Eagles - as long as it is rocking Eagles and NO DESPERADO!!!!

Via: NeoGaf

Finally, LucasArts has released a PC demo for the highly anticipated LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, and I for one am downloading it right now.

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, daring and non-stop action from the original cinematic adventures “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.

To top it off, 1Up has posted some fun screens for it today, and to view them just hit the thumbnails below. The game is expected to be released on June 3rd for the PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, DS, Xbox-360 and Wii.

THQ has released a new video for their upcoming Wii title, de Blob. The video basically sets up the simple, yet bizarre story for the game — how a race of color-hating aliens invaded this planet and started draining it of all its color. The game will be an action puzzler, where you have the protagonist bounce around the landscape to bring color back to the world. The independently-developed PC version was pretty fun and quirky, so I’m expecting about the same from this title. Plus the gameplay actually seems like it could suit the Wii’s motion-sensitive controls quite well.

Activision has announced a new Pitfall game for the Wii is set to hit store shelves sometime in the Fall. “Pitfall: The Big Adventure,” as it is being called, will of course feature the series’ protagonist, Pitfall Harry, as he goes in search of more lost treasure. Once again, he’ll be making his way through all types of exotic locales while dodging enemies and swinging over caverns. And as can be expected, the whole game will take advantage of the Wii’s motion-sensitive controls:

“Pitfall is one of the most legendary franchises in the history of videogames, so we look forward to releasing a new version exclusively for Wii,” said Dave Oxford, Activision Publishing. “What could be more fun than using the Wii Remote™ to swing on a vine over blood thirsty crocodiles as retro-cool Pitfall Harry?!”

See, this is what I would call an example of nostalgia being a bad thing. Yes, Pitfall was a great game…back in the Atari 2600 days. Since then, just about every other Pitfall game has been a poor update trying to capitalize on gamers’ nostalgia. By now, the whole “jungle adventure” game has been taken to a much higher level with the likes of Uncharted and even Tomb Raider. Yeah, my “shovelware” meter is going pretty wild right about now.

Via Press Release

Skate was definitely the one of the best skateboarding games we’ve seen in years. It took a genre that Tony Hawk had run into the ground and innovated so much that Neversoft is taking a break this year, rather than releasing yet another dull sequel.

EA’s Skate managed to take advantage of the dual analog stick setup of the PS3 and Xbox 360 controllers, and now the newly announced Skate It will be looking to do the same using the Wii and DS’ unique control methods — including the Wii’s Balance Board. Although it won’t be necessary, EA claims it’s a much cooler way of playing and will let you “really feel your carves and control your manuals.”

Much of what made the original Skate so popular will be returning, including the core part of Skate’s engine, which has been moved over to Wii, as well as Instant Replay.

There’s currently no solid release date, but expect to see Skate It released sometime in 2008. Head over to FileFront to check out some screenshots of the game right here.

via Press Release

It seems like the Nintendo Channel’s selection of DS demos is going to be changing, which means previously available demos won’t be there forever. But the good news to go along with that is, of course, the availability of new demos. DS Fanboy has scoped out the Nintendo Channel and noticed the latest change, which adds one thing of particular note — Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. Not too shabby.

Although one has to wonder why Nintendo can’t just keep a backlog of all these demos. Hopefully that changes in the future.

The currently available DS demos, thanks to DS Fanboy:

• Brain Age 2
• Brain Age
• Flash Focus: Vision Training in Just Minutes a Day
• Crosswords DS
• The Spiderwick Chronicles
• Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
• Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest
• My Word Coach
• Iron Man

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