Pokémon Diamond, Pearl to arrive Stateside next April

 

After the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl editions have ravaged wallets all across Japan, this marketing phenomenon will now make its way across the Pacific to the U.S., riding on sales figures that are about to breach the 4,000,000 mark. Of course, the Pokémon tsunami will not arrive until April 22nd next year, but this news is more than enough to get gamers into a frenzy as Diamond and Pearl will be the first proper Pokémon title for the Nintendo DS platform. Looks like the strange fetish of catching ‘em all has not abated – in fact, it seems as though the fever has spread all the more as long as the game developers keep on munching on magic mushrooms and designing new Pokémon to keep up with the demand.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl will feature both old game mechanics that made it a huge hit back in 1996 as well as new gameplay that will definitely enthrall beginners and seasoned veterans alike. The game will take place in a new region called Sinnoh, and as usual, you can start off as a double X chromosomed human or one of the XY variety who is raring to embark on the path of becoming the next Pokémon League Champion. Pokémon from Pokémon Diamond Pearl on the GBA can be transferred over via the GBA game slot, adding a totally new dimension to gameplay.

New Pokémon includes Munchlax and Weavile, while the availability of local wireless play enables up to eight other trainers get together for some time of quality fun. With a rating of E for Everyone, you can expect Pokémon fever to sweep across U.S. when April 2007 rolls around. I remembered my college days where I had plenty of fun trying to catch them all, and getting good ol’ Magicarp to gain enough experience to reach level 20 was a hoot. This will definitely be one of the hottest DS titles next year.

Source: Kotaku

Source: Pokémon Diamond, Pearl to arrive Stateside next April
Originally published on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:05:17 GMT

EA to publish new id Software title in Europe

 

Electronic Arts will be bringing the award-winning mobile game Orcs and Elves to Europe in February next year.

Source: EA to publish new id Software title in Europe
Originally published on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 08:45:00 GMT

Did you know?: You Don’t Know Jack is back

 

Filed under: PC, Online, Puzzle

Since the 2004 release of the relatively small You Don’t Know Jack 6: The Lost Gold, our favorite fast-paced, irreverent, slightly-adult PC quiz show series has unfortunately lay dormant. No more! This month saw the premiere of YouDontKnowJack.com, and the Daily DisOrDat — a two-minute, Flash-based matching quiz updated every weekday with You Don’t Know Jack‘s trademark voice acting and comic pacing.
Being online means the questions can be a little more topical than the dated references in the classic disc games. Today’s quiz is about Donald Rumsfeld, for instance, and gamers might find this quiz oddly familiar. What’s more, the setups are genuinely funny, and there are quite a few laugh-out-loud moments to be found in the archives.
We’re not one to look a gift horse in the mouth or anything, but we can’t help but imagine the possibilities for online versions of other Jack favorites like Gibberish Questions or even the Jack Attack. And would some multiplayer modes have killed them? I mean Jack ain’t jack without a friend. We’d even be willing to pay or look at ads or something if it comes to that. Just, please, give us more Jack!
[Via Game|Life]

 

Source: Did you know?: You Don’t Know Jack is back
Originally published on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 10:30:00 GMT

The best video game blunders of 2006

 

Have you been wondering what the biggest screwups in the video game industry were in 2006? Well, you can quit worrying and start reading. This is the sort of stuff we’d like to see covered at things like the Video Game Awards. For an industry that is so good at congratulating itself, they sure don’t like to admit their mistakes. So, it’s up to someone else to do it for them.
Check out this list of the top ten video game blunders, boners, mistakes and gaffes of 2006 from next-gen.biz, and laugh along at some of the highlights from the past year. The Gizmodo story should have totally been number one, though, as Stefan Eriksson has become the official poster-boy for video game idiocy in action after single-handedly killing a company. And a gorgeous Ferrari.
[Thanks, Joe]

Source: The best video game blunders of 2006
Originally published on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 19:55:00 GMT

Pac-Man moves from screens to highways

 

We’re not sure what’s more impressive … the artwork left behind, or the daring artists who braved highway traffic to grace the asphalt with their work. Either way, Highway 55 in Minnesota has some hot retro gaming traffic tips on the road.
The state painted large white dots on the roadway to instruct drivers about the dangers of tailgating, and someone came in and promptly dropped a painted Pac-Man on the road, chasing the dots. Kudos to you, highway bandit. Now if you could just fit the ghosts in there, you might be able to make a cross-country phenomenon.
Note: Joystiq doesn’t want anyone to get run over while painting their highways, so please be responsible while being irresponsible.

Source: Pac-Man moves from screens to highways
Originally published on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 19:25:00 GMT

Mad Catz finally appoints new CFO

 

Mad Catz has named journeyman financial exec Stewart Halpern as its newest CFO, replacing Cyril Talbot III who left the position nearly four months ago. Halpern will officially join the company on January 15.
Halpern leaves Rockstar, where he was head of finance, to join the peripheral maker. Previously, he was CFO for Def Jam’s holding company Rush Communications. After posting a net loss of $6.7 million back in June, Mad Catz is looking to Halpern to turn things around in the New Year. Good luck with that.

 

Source: Mad Catz finally appoints new CFO
Originally published on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:25:00 GMT

Sid Meier’s Railroads! Holiday Scenario

 

This free scenario puts you in charge of saving Christmas by helping Santa and his elves out. Includes a custom train, holiday-themed goodies and music, and a North Pole map.

Source: Sid Meier’s Railroads! Holiday Scenario
Originally published on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:11:35 GMT

Guitar Hero suit settled

 

RedOctane, Activision, and The Ant Commandos bury the hatchet on legal dispute; peripheral manufacturer will continue to offer its own guitar controllers.

Source: Guitar Hero suit settled
Originally published on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:18:08 GMT