Confirming the worst kept secret in gaming, Sony announced today that is will release Little Big Planet Karting later on this year. As you’d expect, the game will mix the series trademark creation systems, allowing players to create different characters, karts and tracks, with traditional go kart racing.

“Since the launch of LittleBigPlanet, our community has provided incredible support, which can be seen in the more than six million levels and games that have been created and shared online through PlayStation Network, a truly wonderful accomplishment,” said Guy Longworth, Senior Vice President, PlayStation Brand Marketing, SCEA. “Now, we’re thrilled to bring PlayStation 3 owners the next Play, Create, Share experience, LittleBigPlanet Karting, a brand new competitive karting adventure that is sure to move this genre forward, providing endless entertainment for fans and newcomers, while resonating with every member of the family, young and old.”

The game is being developed by United Front Games in conjunction with Media Molecule. Expect more on Little Big Planet Karting in the coming weeks.

It may have been rumored and pretty much outed on the internet last week, but EA has confirmed that a new SimCity game is currently in development — but it’s not SimCity 5 as previously believed.

Currently being called simply SimCity, and scheduled for a 2013 release, SimCity is expected to be the most robust game in the history of the franchise. Oh, and it’ll have curvy roads. CURVY ROADS!

It may not have been the best kept secret in the world, but Warner Bros has officially confirmed Lego Batman 2, and yes — it’ll feature some of DC’s other heroes.

Outed earlier last year by promotional materials, Lego Batman 2 will see the cubed, knight teaming up with The Man of Steel to stop the Joker and Lex Luthor from wrecking havoc in Gotham City. Other DC characters are expected to appear, Robin, Wonder Woman and The Green Lantern have already been confirmed.

The game is scheduled to be released this summer, let’s hope this is the Lego game we finally get online co-op in.

In a move that should surprise pretty much no one; Capcom confirmed today that they’ll release Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3, the disc based update for their critically acclaimed and best selling fighter this November. The game will feature combat tweaks, eight new stages and twelve new fighters — four of which were revealed today.

On the Marvel side, Ghost Rider and Hawkeye of the Avengers will be joining the fray, while Firebrand and Strider will represent Capcom. Capcom’s whole idea was to reveal more of the new roster as we approach the release date, but pshhht…this is the internet, and nothings secret, as in almost record time, what looks like the entire new list has leaked on to the web in the form of character sketches found deep within Capcom’s press site. Looks like we’re getting Vergil, Phoenix Wright, Nemesis, and Frank West for Capcom, and Doctor Strange, Rocket Raccoon, Nova, and Iron Fist for Marvel.

The title will hit Xbox 360 and PS3 this November for the budget price of $39.99. Check out the first screens below.

Rumors of a GoldeneyeHD remake have been swirling since the game was released on Wii last year. Now, thanks to a leaked series of screenshots and a pulled Amazon listing, we may have confirmation.

Activision is expected to announce Goldeneye Reloaded at this week’s Comic Con for a fall release. Check out the first screenshots below.

Poor ol’ Chuckie Green. First his daughter was bitten by a zombie and he was blamed for the out break, then he was forced to share the spotlight with Frank West, the hero from the original Dead Rising and now it looks like he’s being written out altogether.

Today, Capcom announced Dead Rising 2: Off the Record, a re-imagining of sorts of last year’s zombie action title. What exactly is being re-imagined? The game follows the same events of last year’s game, but as if they happened to Frank West (he’s covered wars you know). Set for release this fall, Off the Record also employs new areas, psychopaths and combo weapons, and of course — a camera.

“Frank’s come back means the return of his trusty camera, with players able to earn Prestige Points (PP) for specific photo opportunities that are graded against criteria such as horror, drama, erotica and brutality,” said the Capcom press release.

According to the release, Off the Record will also feature a slew of improvements under the hood including a more optimized network and better load times.

Here’s the kicker though, the game is going to be fully disc based, and a digital version for those who bought the original is not planned.

Look, I liked Dead Rising 2 as much as the next guy, heck, I even gave it a solid B rating, but did I like it enough to buy it all over again? I’m not sure. I hope I’m wrong, but check out the debut trailer below anyways.

I don’t get this whole Spider-man 2099 craze that’s going on right now. He’s a character who hasn’t been cool in what 10-15 years? But still, there he is in the new Spider-Man game.

Oh yeah, the new Spider-man game! Activision officially announced the Beenox developed Spider-man: Edge of Time this morning. The game places players in the role of both the original webhead and the 2099 version as they try to correct a serious error in the time-stream; the death of Peter Parker.

Ohhhhh….

Reportedly, the game has a “cause and effect” style gameplay, where something that happens in one time period will effect the other. More on the game is expected to be announced at Wondercon in San Francisco this week.

I know “Lord of the Rings” fans can be a passionate bunch, so I’m sure all of you Gandalf lovers will be excited to know that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has revealed screenshots and a trailer for their new, upcoming action/RPG The Lord of the Rings: War in the North.

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North evolves the action/RPG genre through innovative online, interdependent co-op play for up to three players, who form their own Fellowship and engage in brutal combat. Gamers must play together or perish as they explore previously unexplored lands, story elements, and characters, as well as elements from the films. Players will be able to engage in character customization and development, expansive co-op gameplay options, and upgradeable weapons, skills and special abilities.

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North should be released sometime in early 2011. For more info, and to peep the official trailer, check out: www.warinthenorth.com

Yup, you read that header correctly. Square Enix announced Chocobo Racing 3D for the Nintendo 3DS, for release later this year on the “also just announced this week” system.

Chocobo Racing 3D will feature many characters from the Final Fantasy series, but other than that, there’s unfortunately not a whole lot of info on the game. However, based on the old PS1 Chocobo Racing, I’d expect that this title is pretty much like a Mario Kart clone. Although, according to a press release from Square, “The game will feature exhilarating, speedy racing that can only be experienced through 3D.”

Um, sure.

Well, if that vague quote didn’t get you Square fans fired up, then how about this?

They’re also going to be releasing a brand new Kingdom Hearts 3D game for the Nintendo 3DS as well! Unfortunately, there’s not much info on this game either, other than the announcement.

*makes sad face*

Atlus’ latest permutation of its dungeon crawler series, Etrian Odyssey, will be coming to the Nintendo DS this fall.

“The Etrian Odyssey series is renowned for successfully marrying deep roleplaying gameplay with a grand sense of adventure and the thrill of the unknown,” said Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales at Atlus. “The Drowned City, the third chapter in the fan-favorite franchise, takes the established exploration RPG gameplay to exciting new frontiers.”

Drowned City, eh? Gee. Do you think the game’s environment is going to be somewhat “sea based?” All smarminess aside, Etrian Odyssey III will continue to build on the franchise’s reputation for in-depth character building and management. There are 10 new classes and sub-classes, and a huge number of skills to learn.

Atlus also promises that Etrian Odyssey III will have a wireless local multiplayer mode. Up to five gamers are able to team up for “special combat challenges” in order to take down some of the tougher beasts in the game. Players will also be able to wirelessly trade items with one another via a local connection.

For more on Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City, check out the official site.

Atlus USA has announced that the RPG, Knights in the Nightmare will be coming to the PlayStation Portable on October 19th, 2010. The game will be priced at $29.99, and will be available  via the PlayStation Network and in stores.

The new version of Knights in the Nightmare includes optimized controls, remastered visuals and sound, and a new opening movie from director Yukio Takatsu, who’s famous for his work on games like Persona 3 and 4.

Peep the official E3 trailer for Knights in the Nightmare, after the jump.

With eight million copies sold and a legion of passionate fans worldwide, the Nintendo 64 version of GoldenEye defined multiplayer gaming for a generation of gamers in 1997. Now, a new take on the legendary James Bond adventure arrives with Activision’s all-new GoldenEye 007,which was unveiled at Nintendo’s press briefing, held today during E3. Better late than never, I guess.

GoldenEye 007 will be available this fall only for the Nintendo Wii, and will be based on the GoldenEye film. The game will feature an unprecedented lineup of four-player split-screen MP options that encourage social gaming, including 40 total characters, 8 classic Bond characters, 5 maps, 3 standard modes and 16 special modifiers that allow gamers to create hundreds of game combinations. GoldenEye 007 also features online multiplayer for up to 8 players designed for seasoned FPS online gamers with unique modes and a robust XP system for unlockables and achievements.  GoldenEye 007 also supports the Classic Controller for gamers who want to play with standard FPS controls and the Wii Zapper for “point and shoot” gamers; players will have several control scheme options, allowing them to experience GoldenEye 007 on Wii any way they want.

“GoldenEye for the N64 was one of the most acclaimed games and fans regularly cite it as one of the most influential and important titles in history,” said David Pokress, Head of Marketing for Licensed Properties, Activision Publishing. “We’re thrilled to bring the new GoldenEye 007 to gamers around the world as an all-new adventure that seamlessly integrates nostalgic GoldenEye movie moments with innovative FPS gameplay and unique multiplayer action that is unrivaled on the platform.”

For more, and to see the official trailer, just log on to www.goldeneyegame.com

One of the games that had much of the gaming industry buzzing at last years E3 convention was Scribblenauts for the Nintendo DS. Hell, it even won more than 30 (!) gaming industry awards. Well, if you were a fan of the original, get excited, because coming this October is Super Scribblenauts! Super Scribblenauts will include 120 brand new levels and hundreds of new objects in a robust dictionary and an adjective system with thousands of adjectives. Gamers can also look forward to upgraded controls, and innovative new game play mechanics.

Blue Fang Games, a Waltham-based developer doesn’t make a lot of noise, but you should know its work. In a partnership with Microsoft, the PC game developer has sold nearly 7 million Zoo Tycoon games since 2001. It’s Lion Pride game has been listed as “New and Noteworthy” on the iTunes store.

Now the developer is working on what it hopes will be the next addictive Facebook game.

“The Blue Fang team has been working around the clock to launch a new tycoon-style zoo game for Facebook and we want to give our fans the first chance to play,” the company said in a statement.

Head on over to their website to find out more.

For those of you who have already played Dragon Age: Origins, you know that Ostagar is the site of a great tragedy that helps shape the narrative of the entire game. You could never go back there during your time with the disc-based version of the title, but now, with the Return to Ostagar DLC pack, you will be able to learn more about the events at Ostagar, fleshing out the story of Dragon Age and Ferelden even further.

"We are very proud of the phenomenal launch of Dragon Age: Origins and we’re pleased to announce the next installment of downloadable content that will be available to fans of the game," said Ray Muzyka, Group General Manager, RPG/MMO Group of EA, and Co-Founder, BioWare. "The Return to Ostagar DLC pack is a prime example of BioWare’s commitment to give fans a game that continuously offers new experiences and further enriches a storyline that has already received critical acclaim and positive feedback from the players."

The first two packs of DLC were solid additions to Dragon Age–you picked up some exclusive items and abilities, and also got a chance to earn some more experience for your party, something that’s definitely useful on harder difficulties. I won’t turn my nose up at more of DLC, especially at a $4.99 price point. It gives me an excuse to go in with both of my characters too, especially since they play and act so differently. There’s no set date yet, but it’s releasing this holiday–somewhat vague, but at least we know it’s soon.

Gamers perpetually ask themselves, “what’s next?,” and who can blame them? We thirst for all things new and original, and today, Ignition Entertainment announced a brand new intellectual property.

Dubbed the ominous “Deadly Premonition,” the project is a third-person horror action adventure game slated for a 2010 release exclusively on Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

Developed by Access Games, “Deadly Premonition” puts players in the shoes of FBI agent Francis York Morgan, a murder investigator.

As this is the first we’ve heard of the game, Ingition’s official description is going to have suffice for the time being. According to Ignition “Suspenseful action sequences will force players to make strategic moves, gliding by enemies in the shadows or engaging them with long-range weapons or hand-to-hand melee combat.”

Oh, and what would a game announcement be without a quote from the publishing team and an announcement trailer?! Take a look at both below.

"Deadly Premonition is an intense and unforgettable action game that we are thrilled to add to Ignition’s 2010 lineup," said Shane Bettenhausen, New Business Development Director of Ignition Entertainment. "The gifted developers at Access Games have created a game that will undoubtedly heighten players’ senses as they dive deeper into the mysterious town, eerie story line and action-packed interactive elements."

More information on the project at www.DeadlyPremonition.com

Atlus today announced that Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey would be making its way to North America in the spring of 2010. This game is very different from previous Shin Megami Tensei entries, as it is a first-person affair in a sci-fi setting, though it still retains RPG elements despite the different viewpoint.

In the near future, a mysterious, growing, black void appears at the Earth’s southern pole. Unable to determine its cause and powerless to stop its deadly encroachment, humanity sends an elite team of explorers into the heart of the phenomenon, just as Strange Journey’s look and feel represent a return to the heart of Shin Megami Tensei, bringing to mind the all-time classic Nocturne™. With over 300 demons to bribe, coerce, and negotiate with to gain assistance in battle, Strange Journey is every bit the deep, rewarding RPG experience fans have come to expect from the SMT franchise, yet delivered with a fresh new sci-fi story that taps into mature themes of morality and introspection.

The game received a 36/40 from Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu upon release overseas, the highest rating any Shin Megami Tensei title has ever earned from the mag. Considering how much we loved Atlus’ previous SMT effort on the DS, we’ll be keeping an eye on this one as more information releases until its March 10 release. For now you have a bunch of screens and art work to gaze upon, so gaze away.

This generation has been great and all, but there’s one thing that no one can deny: we’re severely lacking in traditional RPGs that you can play somewhere besides a handheld. The Wii has not been exempt from this either; sure, you’ve got a few tactical RPGs and some action RPGs, and even a few rogue likes, but outside of Final Fantasy IV: The After Years–a WiiWare title that’s like the Mega Man 9 of classic RPGs–there hasn’t been anything brand spanking new to get our attention within the genre.

Ignition, in conjunction with Marvelous Entertainment, aim to change that, as they are bringing Arc Rise Fantasia, a very promising looking turn-based RPG that I’ve been keeping an eye on for ages now, to North America in summer of 2010. The title, developed by Image Epoch (Luminous Arc and its sequel) is turn-based, but has some new twists to it that should keep battles fun and engaging. You are not required to use all of your party members like in most turn-based RPGs, but can instead pick and choose until you use up your Ability Points–there are lots of bonuses for using certain members for certain things too, so there’s a deeper level of strategy than in your traditional turn-based title.

“In Arc Rise Fantasia, we’ve implemented a fun and quick paced battle system to give gamers an enjoyable RPG experience” said Hiroyuki Kanemaru of Image Epoch. “Ignition Entertainment has a great track record with bringing established Japanese experiences to new western audiences and we’re delighted to be able to team up with them to publish Arc Rise Fantasia.”

Check out the first screens for the North American version below, most of which show off characters or some of the bright and colorful effects of the game.

Graffiti Entertainment secured the USA Racquetball license today and named the Wii as the platform of choice for the first game in the to-be series.

According to the press release, a USA Racquetball game, though unnamed, will debut first on Nintendo Wii and then will “roll out games for other videogame console formats.”

The project is currently in development and scheduled for a release in the latter stages of 2010. No mention was made of what other systems the game will venture to, but its beginning on the Wii seems a logical fit.

“We are thrilled about translating the sport of racquetball into a videogame, especially due to its natural fit for the Wii system. The physical dynamics of racquetball present unique opportunities that are very appealing to a videogame player and we are looking forward to creating an authentic playing experience. Anyone who has ever played racquetball knows how challenging a workout and how much fun playing racquetball can be. Now they will be able to actively feel this experience in their own home.” Said Kenneth L. Hurley, CEO of Graffiti

I’ve played Racquetball a handful of times and can absolutely attest to the “pure fun” factor of the sport, and if properly executed in the game, it could be one hell of a great sports game for the Wii.

No screens of the game have surfaced yet, but when they do we’ll be all over it.

Alright everybody, it’s Monday so you know what that means: Nintendo Download Time! There were only five games released this week, so let’s see what they’re all about.

Two games were released via WiiWare: You Me, and the Cubes and Family Tennis.

You, Me and the Cubes is a physics based action puzzle game. You play as humanoid Fallos, creatures that can balance on a playing field of cubes. If you place them in the right position, they survive and make it into the next level. If their weight or locations are off, the Fallos will fall off. To add the gameplay, different cubes have different properties so gamers are going to need to be ready for surprises.

Family Tennis seems to be a run of the mill Tennis game. If you’re tired of Wii Sports Tennis, this seems to be a variation of it. I’m a big fan of Wii Tennis so I see this as a separately developed expansion. You play as members of a family playing tennis for fun. ‚ There are three levels of competition for variation and you’re allowed to play up to three other players.

Last Ninja 2 from the Commodore 64 was released on the Virtual Console. Evil Shogun Kunitoki has gathered all his mystic powers to take over 1988 Manhattan. You play as Armakuni, a ninja mysteriously transported into the future to stop Kunitoki and save the world. Anyone feeling nostalgic will probably want to purchase this game. I’ve never played Last Ninja 2, but the concept sounds interesting enough for a quick run through.

Finally, two games were released for Nintendo DSiWare. Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack is a DSi pack which has Backgammon, Field Tactics, Turncoat, Connect 5 and Grid Attack. This seems like a game for long road trips and with the ability to play with up to 7 kids, it’ll probably be very entertaining for little kids. MySims Camera isn’t really a game as much as it is a camera application. It allows you to take pictures and then put 3D MySims characters into the photos which can be moved or animated. You can also edit the photos with the stylus and then share it with friends.

That’s all for this week’s Nintendo Download. Let us know what you think below in the comments.

Let’s get something straight, right up front. There are two major audiences Sega needs to cater to with each Sonic game: those who are of a younger generation that love the sidekicks and the 3D game worlds, and those of us who grew up with Sonic in the early 90s, and are used to the multiple pathways and high-speed platforming of yesteryear. Sega does plenty of both–look no further than the Sonic Advance titles, or the Sonic Rush games on the DS for proof that they still know how to make an old-school Sonic with new technology–but as far as console releases go, they have stuck more towards appeasing the younger crowd. When a game like Sonic Unleashed comes out and tries to make both fan bases happy, all it does is serve to anger the hardcore, who feel like they were tricked into playing (and paying for) a game they cared about just one-third of the time.

That is why this interview that Gamespot did with Ken Ballough, the associate brand manager at Sega, is intriguing on a few levels. First, there are a few responses that let you know Sega is not about to stop going after the younger audience that loves those sidekicks–and why should they, given the sales numbers of the series?–but there is also a sign–a fast moving, hedgehog-shaped sign, in fact–that Sega wants to make things right with their other fans.

Sonic, back in two dimensions, and with HD graphics. Presumably this puts the game on a console rather than a handheld. Maybe some good has come out of Sonic Unleashed–the love people showed for the daytime levels may have just turned into a brand new (yet old-school) style Sonic game. It’s tough to tell now, given we have nothing to go on, but the fact that it’s 2D will at least force me to keep an eye on this project. “Project Needlemouse” (obviously a working title) has no developer, no platforms and no concrete release date, but my personal hope is that Dimps is somehow involved, given how well their handheld Sonic’s have been received.

We mentioned the possibility of a new Okami title in the works thanks to a recent Capcom trademark, but I have to say, the Nintendo DS is not where I thought the sequel to the wonderful 2006 game would go. Fans were split about where the next version should go, either‚  in HD version on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 or on the Wii once again, where it’s control scheme–the IR and celestial brush were made for each other–worked wonderfully. Now we get to see how well the stylus works, or at least, that’s the assumption. The DS can do cel-shaded and make it look good as well, so I’m interested in seeing how more of Okami’s wonderful art style fits in your pocket.

Clover Studios, the original developer, is defunct, with many of its members now composing Platinum Games (MadWorld and the upcoming Bayonetta). Capcom still owns the IP though, and Ready at Dawn worked on the Wii version. Hopefully an official press release comes soon so we can see just who is working on this game and what it will entail.

Source: Kotaku

Via Kotaku’s Brian Ashcraft, it looks like Nintendo is going to publish a shoot-em-up (or shmup, if you’re into that) to DsiWare over in Japan. Aa Mujyou Setsuna is the title, and it looks like Arika, a company made up of former Capcom employees–including one of the creators of Street Fighter II–who you may know as the‚  developers of Endless Ocean on the Wii has their hand in it as well.

I think Solar Striker is the lone shoot-em-up Nintendo has ever developed back on the Game Boy in 1990. I could be wrong about this, but [checks Wikipedia] no, looks like it’s the only scrolling shoot-em-up developed by Nintendo. Check out the video below to see what you think; I’m hoping this comes over to North America, but I’m also a shmup addict (especially for $5).

Given the success of Fable II, it should be no surprise that a third title in the series is in the works. Peter Molyneux announced that game at Gamescom this morning, while I was still sleeping (time zones heading east are not a journalist’s friend). We have the teaser trailer for you, courtesy of Kotaku and YouTube:

Based on the early details from Molyneux, the kingdom of Albion now needs a king or a queen, and you will eventually become that person. It will be interesting to see how your moral choices and decisions affect the entirety of the population and the land, rather than just your own storyline and personal appearance. To be honest, this is a much more appealing feature to me than the previous two games used (sorry, Eddie) so I’ll be keeping an eye on this one. You have a ways to wait, as Fable II is set for a 2010 release, but it’s not like you don’t have things to wait for in the meantime, eh?

If you’ve been sitting on any Nintendo points, today is a good day to spend them. While the DSi just gets the second entry in the Brain Age: Express series, the Wii picks up two brand new titles we have heard about as well as one little gem from my childhood. Let’s start with the new stuff: Rock N’ Roll Climber is a rock climbing game that also supports the Wii Balance Board. Nintendo has announced its existence previously, but there’s very little in the way of information available about the title.

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits on the other hand is a WiiWare title we know a lot about, thanks in part to an interview with Over the Top Games. The game received some great reviews upon its European release, and we will be reviewing it for you shortly as well, so keep an eye out for that as this game looks promising.

As for the nostalgic release, LucasArts has begun to release Star Wars content on the Wii this month, and they are kicking things off with Super Star Wars for the SNES. Super Star Wars may be the first game I consciously remember going to buy, as my parents usually had Santa bring me games, or got me something for my birthday. I forget why I was loaded enough to buy a game by myself, but I was, and I put a lot of playtime into that cartridge. High scores and high difficulty levels will do that to you, but I could be tempted to go through that ordeal once again. Full press release for all of these titles is after the jump.

We’re busy rushing around as we prepare for our trip to San Diego to cover Comic-Con, but there’s always time to bring you the weekly Nintendo Download. There’s no Virtual Console love this week, but two series I love see new entries, which I’ll take as an apology.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Dark Lord is a tower-defense style game that is also meant to continue the story begun in FFCC: My Life as a King, one of the debut WiiWare games. I love tower-defense, and I love Crystal Chronicles, so this one has my interest. Battle Poker is basically poker, but you fight to grab the cards first, meaning the best hands are made by those with the quickest hands. Last, we have 5 Spots Party, which sounds like one of those books you have as a child that lets you pick up on what’s wrong with a picture. This one seems suited towards the younger crowd, though I guess it would depend on what kind of things they are hiding in there.

DSiWare only gets one title, but it’s an Art Style game. You should know the drill by now, honestly. Chances are very good that the game is great and you’re missing out if you still have just a DS, etc. The full release for all four titles is after the jump, and we have screens for Art Style: ZENGAGE and FFCC: MLAAD (I’m not even sure that is shorter than the actual title) as well.

Worry not, PS3 owners. While the Xbox 360 crowd got their notice for a release date of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 earlier, Capcom has let us know that you will be able to slash with adamantium claws, fire a rocket launcher and team up with characters from two universes on August 13.

I used to play Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on an arcade machine at a movie theater in the Fenway area, despite the fact that the screen was starting to dim and the left joystick wouldn’t let you move any direction except for forward. Now that I’ve moved away from there, I’ll be picking this up when it comes out. What’s your system of choice, folks?

As if things weren’t strange enough in the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout 3, now you have to contend with a crashed UFO. The good news is that you can now exploit alien technology while you run around snooping through people’s drawers, stealing their beer and soaking up their radiation. If given the opportunity, I would vote yes at every developer meeting that involved a discussion of whether or not to include an Alien Deatomizer, Disentegrator, and Hive Cannon (I mean, Hive Cannon just sounds like it will make things blow up). It doesn’t hurt that Bethesda is also promising a few new sets of armor for you, like a Gemini-era Spacesuit and Samurai garb.

As you can see in the screens, stumbling upon this crashed spaceship grants you access to something much larger. We’ll have more info for you as Bethesda unveils it, and eventually a review of this latest batch of DLC.

It’s certainly a varied week for the Nintendo Download. On WiiWare, you’ve got three games to choose from, and then two more from the Virtual Console service. DSiWare has a bit of a quiet week, with Gameloft releasing Brain Challenge and nothing else coming for the system.

For WiiWare, the titles are listed in order of exclamation points. Bit Boy!! makes his North American debut; if you want some more info on the title, we interviewed the developers after its European release. Incoming! is a cartoony tank fighter, with support for either one or two players. Last, we have the lone release without an exclamation point in Ant Nation, though that may be because the description of the game reads like a guide to torturing ants in order to toughen them up. If you’re the kind of person who put ants under a magnifying glass in order to set them aflame, then this game is for you. Apparently, you were toughening them up for their street brawls against the local spider thugs. You’re a hero!

On Virtual Console, you have one game for each Sega platform. I used to play Secret Command at an arcade that had home consoles behind glass, rigged to joysticks. That’s how I was introduced to Battletoads on the NES, as well. Next there is a Sega Channel release for the Genesis, which I have never played before. Pulseman was published by Game Freak though, the company that works on Pokemon, so maybe I’ll take a look all these years alter.

The full press release can be found after the jump. Picking anything up this week?

For those of you that have checked out either Bit.Trip BEAT or any of the Art Style games, this week’s Nintendo Download has to looking good. First, we have the second in a six-game series with Bit.Trip CORE on WiiWare (here’s our interview with the developers, if you missed it), along with Bust-A-Move Plus! and Heracles Chariot Racing. While the initial 135 stages in Bust-A-Move Plus! cost 600 points, there are another two packs that equal 270more‚  puzzles, awaiting your download as add-ons. That’s a whole lot of Bust-A-Move, for those so inclined.

There’s one title on the Virtual Console side, with California Games from the Commodore 64 library. The sports available are the kinds of things you would expect from an 80s game based on California, dude.

Last, on DsiWare, we’ve got another Art Style, with Art Style: Base 10. It sounds like some kind of Sudoku take-off with a different style of gameplay, so I’m willing to give it a shot. I’m used to Art Style games hurting my brain in a good way, so why not one more? If you would rather race, Gameloft, who supports the WiiWare service almost as much as Nintendo, has Asphalt 4: Elite Racing for you on the DSi.

Official press releases after the jump. Picking anything up this week? We’ll have reviews for Bit.Trip CORE and Art Style: Base 10 for you soon.

This week’s digital download gives us three new WiiWare titles and one game a piece for Virtual Console and DSiWare. First we have Water Warfare, Hudson’s second first-person shooter on the WiiWare service, though this time rather than alien worlds you are hanging out at the playground and beach. The concept is intriguing, and the game includes quite a few modes (single player, split-screen, and CPU match) for 800 points. Natsume releases Reel Fishing Challenge for 500 points, so for those of you that want to virtually fish but don’t want to shell out for a retail release, you have found your solution. Last on WiiWare is Silver Star Reversi, which is also called Othello by some, and is often found in board game form.

Next up is the Master System sequel to Fantasy Zone, Fantasy Zone II. There are a ton of shoot-em-ups to choose from on Virtual Console, but if you prefer yours to be sugary sweet and as colorful as the rainbow, then Fantasy Zone is where you want to be.

DSiWare gets Sudoku this week for 500 points, with 150 puzzles for both experts and beginners. It certainly qualifies as the perfect pocket time waster, especially at that price. Check the next page for the official release and more info on each title. Downloading anything this week? Or waiting for WiiWare title #100?

Rockstar dropped us a line to let us know that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is making its way to the PSP later this year as both a digital download and retail release. They are promising some new missions, enhanced visuals and (obviously) some different gameplay, and we’ll have more details for you as they come out.

Chinatown Wars is one of the highest-rated handheld games ever, one of the highest rated on the DS, and also the owner of the highest score I have given out during my time here at Blast (we know which one of those things carries the most weight, of course). I’m curious as to how they aim to improve the experience, or replicate it, given how very DS-centric it was, but given what they accomplished with the initial version, I’m not about to doubt their ability do so. Read on for more details, straight from Rockstar.

Three WiiWare games and a DSiWare title hit the service this week, plus a Virtual Console title that many of us may have forgotten about. Drill Sergeant Mindstrong and Family Mini Golf are family party games, with the former giving us the most family-friendly bootcamp I can imagine. Something tells me R. Lee Ermey is not in this game. There’s always room in the sequel though.

NEVES Plus hooked me with its description just by saying it was a hit puzzle in Japan. Plus, there are 500 puzzles for $6, which is pretty good value for you puzzle lovers out there. DSiWare gives us another Art Style entry with Boxlife, and though I have no idea what this game wants me to do from the description besides cut paper, I know that I need to play it to see what other neat concept Skip has fleshed out in their wonderful series.

Last, we have SimEarth for TurboGrafx. I used to play this on the SNES, but I had no idea what I was doing, which is a bad thing pre-Internet and sans instructions. I just know I made a whole lot of bacteria happy in a really big ocean. Maybe I’ll have better luck now that I’m older, but chances are good I’ll still accidentally end all life on the planet.

The actual press descriptions are after the jump. Looking to download something this week? Let us know, as we may just have a review or two for you in the coming week.

According to Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb’s Twitter account, Perfect Dark, one of the definitive releases in Rare’s (formerly Rareware) history, will be coming out on Xbox Live Arcade this winter, and will be in 1080p.

I have been hoping for a long time–basically since the arguments started–that both Nintendo and Microsoft would come to an agreement so that both the Wii and Xbox 360 users could relive this wonderful title, but as of now, it looks like just the 360 crowd will have it. Still, it’s a good first step.

I’ll let you in on a little fanboy secret here, the kind of thing I normally like to hide while writing. I have spent days of my life (literally days; the game keeps track of your days, hours and minutes played) playing Perfect Dark’s multiplayer mode. I still play it now, even in 2009–I have a smaller HDtv that my Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast are hooked up to, and I play a bit of Joanna Dark’s finest hours when I get the itch (in 16:9 widescreen no less, since Rare implemented that in a game from nine years ago). Unless something horrific happens between now and the game’s release, I’ll be buying this, and hopefully, I’ll see you online, where we can tag-team hordes of Dark bots. Horribly unfair Dark bots.

Hat tip to Kotaku, for publishing this story first.

Team Ninja and Nintendo announced a partnership today on a mature-themed Metroid that will explore both Samus Aran and the Metroid universe in greater detail than ever before. The trailer looked intense and action-packed, with Samus taking on multiple enemies at a time and just ripping through them with speed and ferocity. That’s what I like to see out of a Metroid title.

There were a combination of viewpoints, with some side-scrolling, some third-person (especially during fights with larger enemies) and a few from a first-person perspective. More details will be published as we get them, so be sure to check back for updates.

It sounds like Nintendo took some of the complaints about the original Wii Plus to heart, and in response will be releasing Wii Fit Plus this fall. In this new version of Wii Fit, customization is the key, as you will be able to structure workouts that tailor towards specific things like conditioning, strength training, toning and the like.

There are also 15 new balance games, including juggling skateboarding, and “Perfect 10″, which has you swaying your hips in the direction of specific numbers, trying to total 10. Cammie Dunnaway described it as, “Brain Age for your backside.” There as also a platform game where you ran around jumping and dodging, which Dunnaway described as “running a mile in Mario’s shoes.”

Wii Fit Plus will ship this fall in a bundled form with the Balance Board, as well as in a standalone form for those that already own the original. Given that Nintendo’s Wii Fit has sold more copies since its launch than any other game–and almost as many at 19.5 million as some competitors have with their consoles over their lifespan–it’s not a surprise to see a new year with new software to support it.

Along with a New Super Mario Bros. entry for Wii, this was the other title rumored to be announced at E3. Instead of one, we now get both, which is much better for everyone involved. This is the first ever that there have been two 3D Mario titles on the same platform.

Graphically, it looks stunning as expected. Yoshi was featured in much of the trailer, which also showed off Mario’s Bee Suit, some sidescrolling portions, massive boss battles, and lots of screen time spent on frozen locales, including one where Mario rolled around a giant snowball.

Check out the trailer shown at E3 for yourself:

This came completely out of left field, as there had not been so much as a whisper that this game existed. It’s one of those things that fans of the first two Game Boy Advance titles dreamed about, but assumed would never come to fruition. Now, it’s only set to release in 2010 on your DS, but it’s also coming in 3D.

Take a look at the trailer below:

LOS ANGELES — When James Cameron took the stage at the Los Angeles Theater on Broadway at Ubisoft’s pre-E3 briefing, big news just seemed to happen.

His upcoming film “Avatar” was deemed technologically impossible when Cameron wrote the film treatment 14 years ago. Even in the 21st century, the movie has taken four years of development for its December 18 release.

The movie will be epic. It’s a mix of live action and computer graphics technologies that were invented for this film. It’s set in the 22nd century, on a distant moon where humans have come into conflict with a native race.

Oh, and, it’s also in 3D.

Of course there’s going to be a video game for this kind of movie, right? But here’s the kicker: The game will be released before the movie and feature an entirely original plot.

“Games derived from movies, let’s face it, sometimes have kinda sucked,” Cameron told the crowd, “and I didn’t want anything associated with ‘Avatar’ to suck.”

So Cameron’s people gave Ubisoft complete access to the film’s CGI database and has been working closely with the game developer.

And it’s worked out well. Actually, Ubisoft has been able to create its own items and vehicles for the Avatar world, some of which are now being incorporated into the movie.

According to Yannis Mallat, president of Ubisoft Montreal, the game developer put together more than 100 shots that will be in the feature film.

“Our expertise has come full circle,” Mallat said. “Avatar is using groundbreaking technology, and the result is truly spectacular.”

It’s perhaps the best synergy of movie and video game in history.

“They’ve developed the game properly. It’s a fantastic game,” Cameron said.

The game will also be in full stereoscopic 3D. Cameron, who calls himself an avid video gamer, said it was the first time he’s ever been scared in a video game.

“I set out with Ubisoft to create the ideal model for how a game and a movie could be co-developed … with neither one being the red headed stepchild of the other, and I believe that we’ve done that,” he said.

Though there were hints that a New Super Mario Bros. title would be announced for the Wii, this was different than what we expected to see. The series is indeed making its way to home consoles after debuting on the DS, but unlike the original, this will have four-player competitive co-op.

The two things that come to mind are that this is Nintendo’s answer to LittleBigPlanet, which had four player competitive co-op for the Playstation last year, but it’s also Mario’s turn to go the Legend of Zelda: The Four Swords route, except in a sidescroller as the series classic games were, rather than top down. Details are scarce, as there was limited gameplay shown, but it looks to play as you would expect a four-player sidescrolling Mario game to play.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is set to release this holiday season. We will publish more details as we receive them.