Brothers In Arms Storm The Nintendo Front, On Wii And DS

At long last, all of the three big World War II action franchises have embraced Nintendo's consoles, now that Ubisoft has just announced two new Brothers in Arms games: one for the DS, and another one for the Wii! Activision's Call of Duty and EA's Medal of Honor series have already left their mark on the Nintendo Wii, albeit with highly variable (and modest) amounts of success. Whereas the Wii version of Call of Duty 3 ranks at an average of 69%, Medal of Honor: Vanguard was so far bombed with nothing but demeaning scores, averaging at 52%. We sure hope Ubisoft does better than both of these!

First off the production line will be Brothers in Arms DS, in the summer of 2007, followed this autumn by Brothers in Arms: Double Time for the Wii. Like with the previous BiA games, development will be handled by Gearbox Software, who are "really excited" about making these versions. Just how excited? Well, read for yourself:

"Brothers In Arms on the Wii and DS systems is really exciting for us", said Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software. "I am a huge fan of both systems and thrilled about making games for the two platforms. In the entire space of first-person shooters on video game systems, Brothers In Arms really lends itself to both the Wii and DS interfaces. Imagine using the Wii Remote to give actual hand signals or aiming with the DS stylus from a covered position. That's what you can look forward to with Brothers In Arms Double Time and Brothers In Arms DS."

While the Wii version will inevitably borrow some gameplay ideas from the "competition", the DS version has the chance to do some really interesting things, since Brothers in Arms is so far the first of "the big three" heading for Nintendo's handheld platform. It will even feature drivable vehicles, such as a recon car or a Sherman tank, and multiplayer modes (Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch) for up to four players. Some DS screenshots are already available locally, to get you started.

For more features, you can check out our Brothers in Arms DS and Brothers in Arms: Double Time gamespace pages. And don't forget that the real next-gen BiA experience will be unleashed later this year with Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

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The contrast between the successful launch of Nintendo's Wii console, and Sony's lacking retail performance with the PlayStation 3, was most obvious at the end of January in Japan. At that time, Nintendo was selling four Wiis for every PS3 sold by Sony, placing the former leader of the "last generation" of consoles in an outright humiliating position. Later, the sales ratio was brought down to 3:1 for the Wii, and by now, it seems, the PlayStation 3 may finally be catching up with the Wii in the land of the rising sun (though Sony still has a ways to go...).

According to a report on Bloomberg this week, the total number of PS3 and Wii consoles sold in Japan since their release in November 11 and December 2 of last eyar, respectively, leads to an overall ratio closer to 2:1 for the Wii (2.4 to 1, actually). As of March 25, Nintendo had sold 1.95 million Wii units, while Sony barely passed the 0.8 million mark, with 812,000 PS3 units sold in Japan.

The figures were provided by the Tokyo-based research firm Enterbrain, who previously predicted a price cut for the PlayStation 3 a couple of months ago, while Sony's next-gen console was at its lowest. The price cut, however, never came; nor did Sony confirm any plans to reduce the PS3's inflated price - only its production costs, by using cheaper components, or removing others altogether from the recently released PAL version.

As usual, the Xbox 360 is still lagging way behind most last-gen and next-gen consoles currently on sale in Japan, and unlike Sony, there's little hope left for Microsoft to ever impose itself as a major player in the territory.

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Earlier this week, SEGA have finally confirmed that they are working on NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams - the long yearned-for Wii sequel to their classic Saturn game from 1996, NiGHTS: Into Dreams. And today, they are revealing some more gameplay details on the game's new official website, regarding something they call "persona masks", or shape-shifting masks, as well as some WiiConnect24 features. But first, let's catch up with the announcement from a couple of days ago.

Set for release in Winter 2007 on the Nintendo Wii console, this new chapter will follow the dreamlike (or nightmarish) adventures of NiGHTS, a fantasy jester flying through the rich and vibrant world of Nightopia, "where dreams come to life".

"With the innovative Wii Remote, gamers will experience a heightened sense of gliding, spiraling, and looping through seven mystical dream worlds packed with high-flying adventure. Players must find inventive ways to confront the "Nightmarens" from the neighboring dark world of Nightmare using amazing acrobatic skills, freedom of flight, and other special abilities to protect Nightopia. NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is an adventure filled with courage, hope and inspiration that the whole family will enjoy this holiday season."

Aside from this initial overview, SEGA now reveals that the player will be able to use Persona Masks in order to turn NiGHTS into different forms, gain new abilities, and open up new ways of exploring Nightopia. For instance, NiGHTS will be able to shape-shift into a dragon, making him resistant to wind effects, a dolphin (for under water exploration), and even a rocket, enabling him to travel at supersonic speeds.

Also annouced today are the game's WiiConnect24 online features, which will allow players to exchange items, while the in-game scenery will change according to real-world seasons gathered through the Forecast Channel. This still sounds like a modest online component, but at least we're finally beginning to see that WiiConnect24 system being put to work.

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So much for conquering Europe, eh, Sony? Their enthusiastic launch of the PlayStation 3 on the old continent went down in the annals of gaming history as the fastest-selling home console in the United Kingdom. But that was only for the first week of availability after the March 23 launch, because after the second week things look pretty bad for Sony all of a sudden. Imagine a massive drop in sales of 82%, and then try imagining where the figures will be at after the first month...

Of course, we have no way of knowing whether the current trend will continue in the following weeks, but we'd sure like to hear Sony's explanation for their retail fall (they should blame it on the Easter bunny, that always works!). GI.biz said today that Sony Europe declined to comment, after they ran this story and verified the figure with Chart Track, whose data is gathered from 7000 UK retail outlets (representing 90% of the software market): "Yes, sales of PS3 hardware have dropped by 82 per cent", one spokesperson confirmed.

So what does this mean, precisely? Well, considering that the PlayStation 3 sold some 165,000 units in the first week, and slashing away 82% from that, we end up with less than 30,000 units sold in the second week. Not too impressive, indeed. And apparently the PS3 games also suffered a major drop in sales, by over 60% for the top two selling titles in the UK - Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm. Again, GI.biz had the figures earlier today:

"Sales of Sony's best-selling title Resistance: Fall of Man dropped by 66 per cent, nudging it down to number two in the charts, while MotorStorm sales also fell by 62 per cent, as it reversed into the number three position."

In case you're wondering who pushed them down to second and third place, it was that Kane ba(l)die from Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars. Oh yes, EA's strategic sequel rocks at retail!

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Despite the raging WoW mania that's still going strong, there are a few highly anticipated MMORPGs supposed to come out this year - and, sure enough, Age of Conan is one of them. If you happen to be among the many folks desperately waiting to give it a try, then now's your chance to sign-up for a spot in the upcoming beta test! Funcom has yet to provide a precise date for when the first public beta phase will open, but considering they just began taking in applications, we're hoping it could begin over the next one or two months.

"We have been waiting for this day since we started development on 'Age of Conan', and it will be an epic moment as we see large waves of players charging into Hyboria," said Gaute Godager, founder of Funcom and Game Director on 'Age of Conan'. "As we get ready to unleash the most brutal MMO ever created we will let an increasing amount of players test our creation. With extended Beta testing for months to come we can hone and polish based on large-scale feedback, allowing us to fulfill the potential of the game."

The sign-up page for the Age of Conan beta is currently available at beta.ageofconan.com, where they say the beta test process will be divided into two parts: the General Beta and the Technical Beta. The General Beta will mostly include gameplay testing, while the latter will focus on technical aspects such as stress-testing the game's servers.

Once you're done with the registration, you will automatically become a member of the "Clan of Conan" - the official fan club for Age of Conan, whose members will receive "special benefits", such as an in-game item at launch and a monthly information update through the Age of Conan newsletter. If you'd rather not receive the newsletter and wish to cancel your membership... don't! Unless you want to be kicked out of the beta waiting list.

The post-registration page also directs newfoud clan members to community.ageofconan.com, a page that is not yet set up, it seems. Well, hurry up Funcom!

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My Kingdom For a Medieval II: Total War Expansion!

There's nothing surprising about a new expansion being added to the prolific Total War series anymore, but it's always great to see it happening. Or, in this case, to wait for it to happen. After The Mongol Invasion, Viking Invasion, Barbarian Invasion and Alexander, the next add-on will be sub-titled Kingdoms, and it will naturally be attached to The Creative Assembly's latest game in the franchise - Medieval II: Total War. "When", you ask? In Autumn 2007, they say.

The kind folks from Sega are already besieging us with all kinds of details about the Medieval II: Total War - Kingdoms expansion. It will feature four new campaigns - Britannia, The Crusades, The Teutonic Wars and The Americas - providing over 75 hours of "epic new gameplay", as well as 13 new playable factions and over 150 new units. Actually, the Total War newsletter we got a few days ago mentioned 23 new factions, but we'll stick with the official press release stating that there will "only" be 13 of them.

If you'd like a bit more info on the new campaigns, here's what Sega had to say:

"Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms will feature 4 brand new campaigns, including an opportunity to more fully explore The New World that was unlocked toward the end of Medieval II. In the Americas campaign, players will be able to retrace the steps of Hernán Cortés in 1519, as he seeks to explore and conquer The New World. Players can earn the support of Spain and explore the mystery and riches of the New World, or take control of the Aztec or Native American factions and call on the Gods and the bravery of vast armies to see off this new threat.

Three other campaigns will offer more detailed "magnifying glass" campaigns within Great Britain, Northern Europe and the Holy Land, with many more regions than were originally shown in Medieval II. (...) Players can experience a bloody clash between pagans and Christians in the Northern European Teutonic Wars, or take control of one of 5 factions in the Britannia campaign when England faces war on 4 fronts as once conquered lands rise up against them. Kingdoms will also include a new expanded Crusades campaign, where players renew their fight for control of the Holy Lands, with new factions, devastating new units (such as the terrifying Greek Flame Thrower), legendary heroes and powerful holy relics."

And if all that still isn't enough to convince you, Kingdoms will also include 6 new multiplayer scenarios, 20 new custom battle maps, and a new Hotseat multiplayer mode that will be compatible with each of the campaigns. Still not convinced?! Fine, we'll throw in some screenshots and a trailer, but that's it! For now.

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Nintendo Joins 'E for All' Expo, Ticket Prices Announced

We're still over half a year away from the first edition of the new "E for All" expo, scheduled for October 18-21 in Los Angeles, and yet the show's main organizer - IDG World Expo, part of the International Data Group - is already setting the media on fire. Over the past few days they issued a couple of communiques, the most important of which announced that Nintendo of America has signed on as an "anchor exhibitor" for Entertainment for All Expo... or "E4", as it's likely to become known among the laziest of gaming circles (if you'll pardon the pleonasm).

The E for All expo's final name, venue and dates were announced in early January, and people interested in attending it - specialists and consumers alike - can now rejoice at the thought that Nintendo will be there to show their latest DS and Wii games (hopefully including Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3).

"E for All Expo will offer consumers the opportunity to test-drive the latest in games and gadgetry, as well as purchase products they enjoyed over the course of the 4-day event at on-site retail facilities. Additional attractions are in the works, including high-profile videogame tournaments; job fair / networking opportunities; and the acclaimed Video Games Live concert. In addition to the Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the event will take advantage of soon-to-be-expanded LA Live/NOKIA Theatre area directly adjacent."

This week, IDG returned with another message, announcing that tickets for the show will go on sale in June. The price for a ticket on Thursday / Friday will be $45, and for Saturday / Sunday $65. But if you happen to be in the area in October, better go for the four-day pass, at just $90. Watch out, however, because these prices are only for tickets bought in advance, not on site (which will cost $50, $75 and $110 respectively).

And finally, even though Sony have not officially confirmed their presence at the "E4" expo as of yet, Gamasutra recently learned that Sony will also join Nintendo as one of the top exhibitors at the show. In past years at E3, they used to have a private (pre-)show of their own, much like Microsoft. So now it's up for the Redmond giant to make its move.

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