Pokemon has been around since 1996 as a video game franchise, trading card game, movie series, television series and much, much more. While one may think that the game’s popularity would run dry after all these years, the video game titles still interest legions of gamers everywhere. The latest additions to the series are both Pokemon Black and Pokemon White.

Both titles are set to hit store shelves on March 6th of this year and since the release date is so close, Nintendo has come forth today to announce brand new DSi bundles, as you can see above. Both consoles will feature a Pokemon etched on the outside and will retail for $179.99 when the games hit store shelves.

As for the games themselves? They will retail for the usual $34.99 on March 6th, as mentioned before.

Read (Nintendo)

One of the most highly anticipated FPS titles expected to launch within the next couple of months is none other that Crytek’s Crysis 2. This game is expected to push the graphical boundaries of currently available hardware just as the original title did back in 2007.

However, seeing how the game isn’t set to hit store shelves for the PS3, PC and Xbox 360 until March 22nd, gamers everywhere are sure to be itching to give the title a go. It’s already been known that a Crysis 2 multiplayer demo will be out for the PC come March 1st but nothing was said of a further Xbox 360 demo. Luckily, it was just confirmed today that the Xbox 360 will too be getting a Crysis 2 multiplayer demo come March 1st.

Still no word on a PS3 demo but we’ll keep you posted.

via joystiq

While there are several different tennis simulators currently on the market, SEGA is looking to bring yet another in the form of Virtua Tennis 4. What is  known about this game is that Wii MotionPlus, Xbox 360 Kinect and PlayStation Move will all be supported along with a new dynamic camera feature. This dynamic camera will look like a normal tennis game when the ball is on the other side of the court. However, when it’s your turn to smack the ball the camera will switch into first person mode allowing you to precisely return the ball even allowing for special spin maneuver that stay true to the real sport. Seeing how 3D display technology is also gaining a bit of momentum, SEGA has also let us know that they will be giving Virtua Tennis 4 the ability to display gameplay in 3D.

If you were wondering when the game will be released, SEGA has just come forth to announce that Virtua Tennis 4 will be out for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii on May 10th. No word on a European release but we’ll keep you posted.

While the Xbox 360 has the Halo franchise as their FPS exclusive, the PlayStation 3 has Killzone. Currently on the third iteration, the Killzone franchise has been known to have some stunning visuals in addition to incorporating the latest technologies such as PlayStation Move and 3D display technology.

Well, Guerilla Games has just come forth to announce the Steel Rain map pack for the game. Included in this map pack are two brand new maps including the 16-play Junkyard and 24-player Stahl Arms. Unfortunately there was no mention of a release date or price point for Steel Rain but we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

via destructoid

One of the biggest video game franchises of all time is none other than Call of Duty from Acitivsion. Currently, the latest release is Call of Duty: Black Ops but the real title that we’re all waiting for, Modern Warfare 3, is expected to launch this year.

Unfortunately, Activision hasn’t given us much in terms of details regarding the game but they’ve just sent out some dog tags to members of the media with the URL www.findmakarov.com imprinted on the back. When you head to said URL you are greeted with a countdown for March 1st of this year. While it’s not confirmed, it’s expected that Activision will be unveiling the latetest installation to the Call of Duty series.

Check back around then for more details.

UPDATE: Seems that Activision has come forth to say they will not be revealing a game on the 1st and that this is nothing more than an elaborate hoax. But then, who could have sent the dog tags?

Sony has revealed a new bundle which includes PlayStation Move and SOCOM 4, called “Deployment Edition”. The new bundle includes a copy of SOCOM 4, one PlayStation Move controller and Navigation controller, a “Sharp Shooter” gun attachment, and a PlayStation Eye camera.

The bundle will be available on April 19 and will retain for $150.

Sony has added two more titles to its PS3 Greatest Hits, this time, the heavyweights and bestsellers Uncharted 2 and God of War 3. The Uncharted 2 version is the GOTY version, which includes lots of new content. Both games will retail for $30. The full list of new games added to the Greatest Hits lineup are:

• God of War III
• Heavy Rain
• ModNation Racers
• UFC Undisputed 2010
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Sony has announced that from Sunday, the price on a PSP handheld gaming device will be slashed to $130, from the previous $170. This is most likely to counter lower sales of the original PSP (PSP 3000), as the new Sony portable is getting nearer to release.

The PSP Go on the other hand, will retain its $200 price point.

When first launched Sony’s PlayStation 3 showed massive potential but due to a high price tag failed to catch on in the early days. Luckily, years later the price tag has dropped and Sony’s PS3 is competing with the Xbox 360 on just about every front. However, the PS3 does offer some unique features that the Xbox 360 does not including PlayStation Home.

This virtual community was expected to compete with Second Life and provide gamers with an online home where they could hang out with friends, play games and attend special events. But, due to a lackluster offering the service never took off but, according to Sony, things are quite different now. According to Home director Peter Edward, Home has evolved quite a bit and is pretty much nothing like it was two years ago. Below he comments:

“Two years down the line it has come on in leaps and bounds, is vibrant, full of cool content and great games to play. It’s free — those who aren’t going in there are really missing out. If you think Home is what it was two years ago, do yourself a favour and have another look, you won’t be disappointed.”

I, for one, tried Home and wasn’t very thrilled but seeing how Edward assures us it’s different maybe I’ll give it another go. What about you?

via eurogamer

While there are legions of gamers who swear by their hardcore first person shooters including Call of Duty and Halo, there is a highly dedicated community mashing buttons, accruing carpal tunnel and kicking ass in the various fighting games. Leading th pack are franchises like Street Fighter and Tekken. While Tekken 6 is the latest installment of the Tekken series, Street Figher has amassed not one, but 3 different versions of the latest Street Fighter IV.

Released here in the US on April 27th, 2010 Super Street Fighter IV expanded on the original title adding a whole slew of new characters, extra moves and a boat load of new maps. However, past that, is Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition. This new and improved title includes Street Fighter III characters Yun and Yang in addition to Evil Ryu and Oni as secret bosses. Of course, Capcom also was nice enough to throw in some new EX moves.

Unfortunately, if you were thinking you’d be able to get your hands on the game outside of an arcade it seems that you’re going to be disappointed. Super Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono recently sat down with Japanese gaming mag Famitsu to say that there are no plans to port to game to home consoles. This is quite unfortunate for hardcore Street Fighter Fans who don’t have access to an arcade.

Perhaps this will change in the future – we’ll keep you posted.

via next-gen.biz