Sony is currently recuiting developers for the next Wipeout game, for the PSP and PlayStation 3. The game isn’t expected to be ready for the PS3 launch though, since it seems that it’s still very early in production. The game could use the new motion sensing technology in the PS3 controllers to control the vehicles.

UPDATE: Sony hasn’t announced the name for Wipeout, it might be Wipeout 6, if anything. [Thanks, George]

If you can’t develop original and exciting games for the PSP, why not port some old ones, in the thousands. UK PSP Magazine reports that up to 7,000 PSOne titles may be ported to the PSP. Joystiq reports that 5 AAA titles will be available when the service launches:

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII
Silent Hill
Tomb Raider

The games will be emulated on the PSP and offered via a download service. Other titles are expected at launch, alongside a new firmware update.

Sid Meyer’s Civilization IV has shipped to the Mac OS X platform in North America today. The game was ported by Aspyr Media from the original PC release, developed by Take-Two Interactive and published by 2K Games. Civilization IV has received critical acclaim when it first came out October 2005, and continued the franchise in a great fashion. The game is available for both Intel and PowerPC based OS X systems.

Sony Boss Kaz Hirai said that he isn’t promising games to come with the usual $59.99 next-gen price tag. He expects them to cost more, but that’s no surprise because the PlayStation 3 is by far the most difficult and time-consuming next-gen platform to develop games for. However, next-gen (Xbox360) games in the UK retail at 50 pounds, that’s about $90. In Scandinavia the prices are also around $90-95. In Norway, I paid $95 for Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter for the Xbox360. In Germany, the same title costs just under $70. I can only imagine how much PS3 games are gonna hurt my wallet.

Nintendo has unveiled a pink DS Lite for the girls. Or boys, if you’re into that kind of stuff. The DS Lite goes under the name “Noble Pink”, and will be available July 20 in Japan.

Via Kotaku and Nintendo

The amazingly looking Crysis has equally stunning artwork, just posted on the official site. It’s a number of high-res concept art, showing off landscapes and level design. More shots after the jump.

Via crysis-online.com

READ ON »

Developer Webzen has announced that their upcoming MMOFPS Huxley will feature in-game advertising, brought by Massive Incorporated.

“As a premier global online games company, Webzen is dedicated to providing a realistic experience for our gamers,” said Nam Ju Kim, CEO, Webzen. “The combination of Webzen’s global marketing know-how and Massive’s unprecedented in-game advertising experience ensures we are delivering the highest level of quality to gamers.”

So now we’re paying a monthly fee and getting ads in our face everywhere? I doubt in-game advertising will deliver “the highest quality” for gamers. For advertising companies, perhaps.

The official rules and guidelines for the next Independent Games Festival have been announced. The IGF was established in 1998, to encourage innovation and recognize new independent developers, much like the Sundance Film Festival did for independent film-makers.

“We’re delighted to announce this year’s competition, and are really looking forward to seeing the innovative titles submitted this year,” said Simon Carless, Chairman of the Independent Games Festival. “With the vastly expanded modding competition, the Innovation Award in the main IGF competition, and the new Best Student Game prize, we’re looking forward to another set of great indie titles.”

The 9th annual Independent Games Festival takes place Monday – Friday, March 5-9 in San Francisco. The best games will be playable the last two days of the festival. If you’re interested in submitting a game can visit www.igf.com for official rules and entry forms.

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If you haven’t got enough of top 10s the last few weeks, GameTrailers gives their take on the top ten weapons used in video games.

Isn’t it just cute? You can get one from Club Nintendo Japan and use it to carry your new DS Lite. It’s one of the recent DS accessories only available for Japanese Club Nintendo members. You can also get multi colored stylus and a bunch of other useless Nintendo merchandise.

Super Mario Hat Carrying Case (club.nintendo.jp)

Via Aeropause