Revolution Portal: Because it won’t be televised.

Namco Bandai has a full plate of Soulcaliber these days, with Legends coming out on Wii and IV in the works for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. 

Legends producer Jin Okubo recently explained about their strategy of sharing the wealth.

“Ever since Soulcalibur III, we’ve had pretty much what we call a “core team”…and some of those key members are working simultaneously on both titles.  Going back and forth,” he told Gamasutra.

“And, obviously, since some of the team members are working on both games, it helps to facilitate flow of progression between the two…So they’re sharing technology and ideas, and trying to make sure that the franchise, whether it be fighting or action-adventure, has some unity.”

Naturally, for Nintendo’s console Namco Bandai is focusing more on the control scheme than the graphics, with Okubo explaining that “they’re trying to take advantage of the specifics of the hardware. For example, with the Wiimote, obviously the control is built around it.”

“There are small touches, such as the fact that when you swipe with the Wiimote, the sound of a swishing sword plays out of the controller’s speaker. Small touches like that.”

Soulcaliber Legends is slated for release this Winter in North America, Soulcaliber IV’s North American release date is sometime in 2008.

THQ Inc. today announced that two all-new titles in the irreverent sci-fi action gaming franchise Destroy All Humans!  are currently in development and scheduled to ship simultaneously in early 2008. Destroy All Humans!  Path of the Furon  follows Crypto on a journey of enlightenment and Hi-Fi destruction as he faces his most dangerous enemy yet and lampoons the pop culture of the Funked Out 1970s. Destroy All Humans!  Big Willy Unleashed  will serve as the story prequel to “Path of the Furon”, taking advantage of the unique Wii Remote  controller and allowing Crypto to unleash massive destruction in an all-new character in the series –Big Willy, a prototype alien mech, masquerading as a fast food restaurant mascot.

“The Destroy All Humans! franchise has consistently delivered a unique combination of fun and original gameplay delivering irreverent humor and over the top destruction that has garnered worldwide critical acclaim and commercial success,” said Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ. “The simultaneous release of two all-new Destroy All Humans! titles means gamers can expect different experiences that utilize the unique technology of the leading gaming platforms.”

“Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon will take advantage of the powerful Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, offering high-definition graphics, expanded open-world gameplay and a humorous story following Crypto on his journey of enlightenment and destruction,” said Jack Sorenson, executive vice president of worldwide studios, THQ. “The Wii’s capabilities served as a springboard in designing Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed, and the game will take full advantage of the Wii Remote, allowing gamers to cause massive destruction on foot, in Crypto’s UFO or at the controls of the Big Willy mech.”

About Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon
Destroy All Humans!  Path of the Furon  redefines the brand’s irreverent Sci-Fi action gaming experience for the next-generation Xbox 360  video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 system with new weapons and mental abilities, high-fidelity destruction and expanded open-world gameplay. In Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon, players will pick up where prequel Destroy All Humans!  Big Willy Unleashed  leaves off, controlling Crypto in the Funked Out 1970’s when a mysterious new enemy attacks, launching a conspiracy that unravels Crypto’s groovy new way of life and threatens the very survival of his Furon race. Developed by THQ’s newly formed internal development studio Sandblast Games, Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon takes players on a journey of Enlightenment and Destruction to help Crypto gain new powers from an alien Kung Fu Master in order to take on his most difficult enemy yet.

About Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed
Designed from the ground up for the Wii  home video game system, Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed fully utilizes the Wii Remote to deliver an all-new sci-fi action gaming experience. As the storyline prequel to Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon, players control Crypto as he travels the world in the Funked Out 1970’s, unleashing massive destruction on foot, in his UFO and for the first time, in the Big Willy mech. Designed by THQ’s internal development studio Locomotive Games, Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed will also be available on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and PSP  (PlayStation Portable) system.

Source: THQ

Majesco is taking out the big guns for E3, showing titles for Wii, Xbox 360, and DS during the iconic show.  Sure, the lineup is a bit DS heavy for our tastes, but we’ll still be envious of the people who make the trip to California anyhow.

The announcement from Majesco:

Majesco Entertainment Company today announced its product showcase being unveiled at the 2007 Electronic Entertainment Expo Media & Business Summit, July 11-13, in the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Air Center, in Santa Monica, CA.

“With video games a premier source of entertainment for an increasingly diversified audience, our fall lineup is designed to be extremely accessible to the mainstream consumer,” said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing, Majesco. “From popular licenses to our own IP, Majesco will continue to identify opportunities that offer exceptional content and value.”
Included among Majesco’s next-gen products is Blast Works: Build, Fuse & Destroy for the Wii home video game system from Nintendo. Developed by Budcat Creations and based on the popular Tumiki Fighters online game, Blast Works is a side-scrolling shooter that lets players build their own game by creating custom levels, ships and enemy ships. This “sticky” geometric shooter also lets players absorb the pieces and weapons of destroyed enemy ships to bolster their own defenses during battle and transform into boss-sized ships.

Majesco will also be showing its recently announced Furu Furu Park on the Wii console. Developed by Taito and 505 Games, Furu Furu Park is a collection of 30 stylized arcade games that take advantage of the Wii Remote’s range of motion to entertain players of all skill levels and ages. Included amongst them are classics like Arkanoid and Bubble Bobble, along with quirky new offerings like Super Karate, Sonic Blastman 20XX and Safe Cracker.

Majesco will be showcasing its first Xbox 360 title, Kengo: Legend of the 9. Players assume the role of nine famous samurai warriors as they fight through lush high-definition environments in feudal Japan. Developed by Genki, the game includes four gameplay modes including: a deep, story-driven single player Main Mode, specific timed challenges in Mission Mode, 2-player head-to-head Combat Mode, and Xbox LIVE Leaderboard that lets gamers pit AI profiles against one another via Xbox LIVE.

From a mystery “whodunit” to lifestyle sims, Majesco will also be highlighting a strong portable line-up for the Nintendo DS that has something for everyone. Titles include:

Nancy Drew and the Deadly Secret of Olde World Park: The world’s most recognizable teen sleuth makes her handheld debut in this interactive mystery from Gorilla Games.
Zoo Hospital: Step into the role of veterinary intern at a world-famous zoo and help diagnose and treat a wide variety of exotic animals from adorable chimps to deadly komodo dragons.
Holly Hobbie & Friends: Featuring the girl with heart, Holly Hobbie, and her best friends Carrie and Amy, Holly Hobbie & Friends lets players enjoy themed mini-games that include: cooking, biking, dancing, designing posters, dressing up and more.
Turn It Around: Players must master the Touch Screen turn wheel in 24 arcade-style games including Elevator Action and Packed Train.
Operation: Vietnam: Developed by Coyote Console, Operation: Vietnam drops players into the war-torn jungles of Vietnam as they try to escape enemy territory with their squad of four soldiers.
The Wild West: This action shooter incorporates both 2D and 3D levels in Touch Screen shoot outs on the untamed frontier.

Both Wii and Xbox 360 owners may have some incredible titles to look forward to if a purported release schedule is correct.  According to Siliconera,  NiGHTS Into Dreams is on the way for Nintendo Wii, while Xbox 360 will get a taste of Radiant Silvergun 3. 

The information, while not confirmed, was printed on the latest release schedules for each console on the Japanese G-Rev site.   For those who can read Japanese, Microsoft’s next-gen schedule is here, while the Nintendo one is here.

This would not be the first time NiGHTS has been mentioned — in fact, the rumors first floated around for a little console known as the Revolution.  The April rumor from BC:

Famitsu’s sources claim that Sonic Team had planned a sequel years ago for the Dreamcast, and it would have come with a “tilt sensor” controller, but they had to drop the project due to the untimely death of the great console. The Revolution’s 3D controller will be able to do what Sonic Team was hoping for and more, so we could finally see the continued adventures of Elliot and Claris.

We’ll let know when/if this rumor gets confirmed or debunked.

People thinking about buying an Xbox 360 over a Nintendo Wii or PS3 got a small boost recently when Microsoft announced that the previous warranty time period of 90 days was going to be extended to a full year.   The decision is retroactive as well, so people who have already paid for repairs will get a big fat check from the company.

From Microsoft: 

In a move to benefit customers, Microsoft Corp. announced today that it will change the Xbox 360 warranty from 90 days to one year from the date of purchase in the United States and Canada. Microsoft extended the warranty in these territories to be consistent with the standard one-year warranty that is available throughout most of the world. The news is reason to celebrate this holiday season; it applies to both would-be purchasers and those who already have Xbox 360 and are still within their first year of ownership.

Effective today, the one-year warranty is now the standard for the console. Customers who experience hardware issues with their 360 within one year of purchase can have their consoles repaired at no cost. Moreover, the new warranty policy is retroactive, so consumers who may have already paid for an out-of-warranty repair within one year of purchase will be eligible for reimbursement of their console repair charges.

“Customer satisfaction is a central focus and priority for the Xbox 360 system,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “In addition to jaw-dropping features such as high-definition graphics, an amazing catalog of over 160 games, and social online and entertainment experiences on Xbox Live®, the Xbox 360 system now offers this extended warranty upgrade. It is truly the industry’s most compelling home entertainment offering.”

Customers who have already paid out-of-warranty repair charges within their first year of ownership can expect reimbursement checks for the amount of their console repair in approximately 10 weeks. Reimbursements will be automatically distributed, so customers need not contact Microsoft. Customers who have questions regarding this policy change or experience any hardware issues should visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/contact where they can check their warranty status, find troubleshooting information for common issues and find Xbox support contact information.