Consoles

Alongside news of a new DS , a dedicated online content system and GameCube re-releases for the Wii , Nintendo has now confirmed that it is to launch a new Wii Speak Channel, Kotaku reports. The free software will allow users equipped with the upcoming Wii Speak device, which comes …

Japanese developer and publisher Konami has confirmed that it is to release a demo of the upcoming Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 on October 2nd (this Thursday) – the day before the European release of EA’s FIFA 09. The demo will offer a five-minute exhibition match with a choice of teams …

Nintendo will release a new model of its DS handheld later this year that can take pictures and play music. That’s according to a report in the Japanese business daily Nikkei (via Reuters), which says the system will also be equipped with advanced wireless communications functions. The price for the …

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is getting a massive casual games marketing push in the US – just days after the company revealed to MCV that it would be spending tens of millions on widespread marketing for the console in the UK. For the full story, visit MCV sister site CasualGaming.biz

Xbox Japan boss Takashi Sensui has called Xbox 360 the best option” for Japanese consumers, despite the system’s minute installed base in the territory. Sensui said that the release of upcoming major RPGs would help the 360 to continue its renaissance in the region – which saw its weekly sales …

Xbox 360 sales rocketed up 32 per cent over the weekend, official UK retail monitor GFK-ChartTrack has confirmed to MCV. The console outsold the PS3, which saw an eight per cent drop in its sales compared to the previous weekend. MCV broke the news last night that Xbox 360 had …

Toy manufacturer Tomy is to go head to head with Rock Band and Guitar Hero this Christmas – with an infra-red ‘air guitar’. The Guitar Rock Star has the same head and neck of a guitar, but contains laser technology to allow users to play along with eight pre-recorded songs. …

Senior regional director of Microsoft UK Neil Thompson has told MCV that the recent price cuts are the opening gambit in a peak season which will see tens of millions” spent on marketing the Xbox brand. Microsoft undercut market leader Wii in the battle for the gaming pound this week …

As part of its press statement confirming the previously rumoured but now confirmed price cuts for its range of Xbox 360 SKUs in the UK, Microsoft has also seemingly nailed down a pre-Christmas arrival for its exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content. A snippet from the statement reads: Continuing …

Nintendo makes more profits per employee than both investment bank Goldman Sachs and Google, according to survey put together by the Financial Times. Each of the 3,000 staff at Nintendo – most of which work in games development or R&D – will produce $1.6m in profile this year.For the full …