Nintendo to launch new DS with camera, music player

According to a report in the Sunday edition of The Nikkei Business Daily, Nintendo plans to launch a new version of its popular DS portable gaming device with a camera and music player function.

The new version will have better wireless capability for connecting to the Internet and will cost under ¥20,000 (US$189), the report said. It will be offered first in Japan, it said.

“Nintendo was not immediately available for comment.”

The company is scheduled to present an unnamed “new product” at a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday and speculation has been rife that it would be a new version of the DS.

The DS first went on sale in 2004 and a second version, called the DS Lite, debuted two years later in 2006. Both have sold extremely well with worldwide sales of the DS products at 77.5 million units as of the end of June this year.

In Japan, a total of 23 million of the devices have been sold in the country — roughly one for every fifth person — but in recent months sales have started to slow. In the April to June quarter Nintendo sold 580,000 units in Japan versus 2.1 million in the same period of 2007 so analysts have predicted a refresh of the DS might be coming to stimulate sales.

For the current fiscal year to the end of March 2009 Nintendo predicts it will sell 28 million units of the DS.

Midnight Club LA Update!

The official Midnight Club Los Angeles page has been updated, with the launch of the Downtown LA page, which features some of the cars available in the game.

The cars range from muscle cars the Dodge Charger SRT-8 and the ’79 Firebird to the hot, speedy tuner, the Mazda RX-8 Shinka.

There’s also an updated collection of screens in the screenshot section. Head on over there now!

Far Cry 2 Release Date

Ubisoft announced that Far Cry 2 will be released on October 23rd in Australia on XBOX 360, Playstation 3 and Games for Windows.

To celebrate the release of Far Cry 2, Ubisoft is happy to unveil the Far Cry 2 Collectors’ Edition that will include:

- Exclusive wooden box

- Original Far Cry® 2 Game

- Limited edition Far Cry® 2 t-shirt

- “The Art of Far Cry® 2” Art book

- Collector map

- Making-of DVD

Far Cry 2 Collectors’ Edition can be pre-ordered from all leading retailers.

COD World at War Online BETA in October

Activision and developer Treyarch have confirmed plans for Call of Duty: World at War multiplayer betas in October for the Xbox 360 and separately for download on Windows PC. These betas will serve as an early chance for players to practice the tactics needed for survival in the intense chaos of Call of Duty: World at War’s Pacific and European theatres. Players will experience the game’s new squad system, as well as fan favourite perks and kill streaks.

All preparation for the full battle will commence on November 12, 2008 when Call of Duty: World at War is released to Australian retailers nationwide.

For players who are looking to feel the all-out combat and get tokens for the Call of Duty: World at War Xbox 360 multiplayer beta, they can register at CallofDuty.com.

Tool and Sting coming to Guitar Hero World Tour

Rock and roll legend Sting and progressive metal pioneers Tool are making their video game debuts, contributing more than just music, in the upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour.

In what will be the largest collection of artists ever to appear in a Guitar Hero game, singer-songwriter, actor, author, activist and lead singer/bassist of The Police, Sting will add his voice and likeness as an in-game character. Play alongside him as he performs one of The Police classics, “Demolition Man.”

“Parabola” and Grammy-award winning “Schism” from Tool’s critically-acclaimed 2001 album Lateralus in addition to “Vicarious” from their 2006 Grammy-award winning album 10,000 Days. The game will also feature an all-new venue designed in collaboration with the band and highlighting the art style that has become a staple in their music videos, live shows and album artwork.

Guitar Hero World Tour is expected to hit retail store shelves on 12th November, 2008.

EA announces Heroic Driving Engine for NFS Undercover

need_for_speed_undercover

Electronic Arts unveiled new details of Need for Speed Undercover, the intense action racing game scheduled for release worldwide this November.

Sydney, Australia – August 21, 2008 – Black Box, a studio of Electronic Arts today unveiled new details of Need for Speed Undercover, the intense action racing game scheduled for release worldwide this November. Need for Speed Undercover has players racing through speedways, dodging cops and chasing rivals as they go deep undercover to take down an International crime syndicate.

The new game heralds the return of high-intensity police chases and introduces the all-new ‘Heroic Driving Engine’ — a unique technology that generates incredible high-performance moves at 180 miles per hour during breathtaking highway battles.

“Need for Speed Undercover puts you at the center of a big-budget Hollywood movie with all of the drama, action and dazzling chase scenes, right on your gaming console. The unique Heroic Driving Engine will give you ultimate control over the hottest cars and push you to use every ounce of skill to outrun the law and take down criminal adversaries,” said Executive Producer Bill Harrison.

A mix of stunning computer graphics and live-action movies will immerse gamers in the rich world of the Tri-City Bay Area. The city’s open-world environment features over 80 miles of roads, including an enormous highway system that sets the stage for heart-pounding highway battles. These high-speed, high-stake chase sequences will push players to the limit as they fight off cops and opponents while whipping through traffic at 180 miles per hour.

An intelligent new A.I. mechanic delivers a realistic and high-energy action driving experience. Going back to the franchise’s roots, Need for Speed Undercover features more aggressive and intelligent cops whose sole purpose is to take down the player quickly and by any means necessary. Need for Speed Undercover also features the series’ signature car customization, real-world damage and realistic driving physics. The game includes some of the hottest licensed cars such as the Audi R8, BMW M6 and Lexus IS-F.

Need for Speed Undercover is being developed by Black Box in Vancouver, B.C., and will be in stores in Australia on 20 November.

The game will be available for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and Wii as well as the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS, PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system, PC and mobile.