For the past month we’ve been working hard together with Splitreason to get our very own gaming merchandise created by them, and late last week the first classic game T-shirt designs got printed. These are the first two shirts out of seven ideas we thought up, so you can look forward to many more shirts in the coming months.

If you like them, or you think a friend of family member might enjoy wearing them, please feel free to support us by buying a T-shirt. If you buy one before the Holiday Season ends, you can enter promo code ANTIGRINCH at check out for a 15% discount.

Let me introduce you to the first two shirts and the talented designers who drew them…

Title: “Joystick”
Description: “One joystick to rule them all.”
Basis: The T-shirt in our blog’s logo was turned into an actual design. A fitting homage to the retro joysticks of yesteryear.
Color: Red T-shirt
Price: $17.95 (Click here to buy “Joystick”)
Designer: Gene Kelly
Material: 100% cotton

Title: “I Believe”
Description: “He was looking for the truth in all the wrong places.”
Basis: Remember that sci-fi show that ran on TV for almost 10 years? Well, in his office there was a famous UFO poster ripe for parody. After all, it was us gamers who were really fighting off the alien invasion in arcades and living rooms the world over.
Color: Black T-shirt
Price: $17.95 (Click here to buy “I Believe”)
Designer: Steve Santiago
Material: 100% cotton

Monday:
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia - $5 (Wii Shop)
BIT.TRIP VOID - $6 (Wii Shop)
Castle Of Magic - $5 (DSi Shop)
Electroplankton Luminarrow - $2 (DSi Shop)
Electroplankton Sun-Animalcule - $2 (DSi Shop)
Electroplankton Lumiloop - $2 (DSi Shop)
Electroplankton Marine-Crystals - $2 (DSi Shop)
Electroplankton Varvoice - $2 (DSi Shop)
Harvest Moon: My Little Shop - $12 (Wii Shop)
Little Tournament Over Yonder - $8 (Wii Shop)
myNotebook: Blue - $2 (DSi Shop)
Super Mario Kart - $8 (Wii Shop)

Tuesday:
Book of Unwritten Tales (PC)
Coldstone Creamery: Scoop It Up (Wii)
Cook Wars (Wii)
Dream Salon (Wii)
Fighting Fantasy (DS)
Hands On! Tangrams (DS)
Hello Kitty: Party (DS)
Karaoke Revolution Bundle (Wii, PS3, Xbox 360)
King Arthur: The Role-playing Wargame (Steam)
Marines: Modern Urban Combat (Wii)
Rec Room Games (Wii)
Rogue Trooper: Quartz Zone Massacre (Wii)
Scene It? Twilight (Wii)
Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter - $20 (Steam)
Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Sith Edition (PC, Mac)
Tekken 6 (PSP)
The Book of Unwritten Tales (PC)
Treasure Island (PC)
Winter’s Tail (DS)
Your Shape Featuring Jenny McCarthy including Motion Tracking Camera (Wii)

Thursday:
Blood Bowl: Dark Elves Edition - $50 (Steam)

Nintendo has now added these new/classic games to the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop. The games go live at 9AM Pacific time. Users with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations or Amazon (see Card on the right).

Where available, we’ve included videos of each of today’s games. Either for nostalgia’s sake or so you can see if any new game is to your taste.

This week’s new Virtual Console games are:

Super Mario Kart
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Wii Points = $8
Description: Get in, sit down, buckle up and experience frantic kart racing in the game that started it all. Select one of eight characters from the Mario series - offering a variety of driving styles - and take on three championship cups in three different kart classes. Win enough and you’ll unlock a fourth circuit: the ultra-tough Special Cup. Crossing the finish line in first place isn’t an easy task, though, as each track has unique obstacles to conquer. Racers can obtain special power-ups that boost them to victory. For a different kind of challenge, take on a friend in multiplayer races or go head-to-head in a Battle Mode arena, where the object is to pop your opponent’s balloons before you lose your own. With more than 15 tracks to master and nearly endless replay value, Super Mario Kart is classic gaming with some banana peels thrown in for good measure.

A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
Original platform: NES
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points = $5
Description: Blob has come from the distant planet Blobolonia in search of an Earth boy to help him save his world. Join him on this fantastic adventure, searching for treasures in mysterious caverns beneath the earth, then traveling to Blobolonia to battle the evil emperor. Discover Blob’s amazing appetite for jellybeans and the different transformations that occur with each flavor. Use these shapes to overcome even the most outrageous obstacles. A Boy and His Blob is a fantastic journey filled with constant surprises and humorous characters.

This week’s new WiiWare games are:

BIT.TRIP VOID
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points = $6
Description: The third installment in the retro-arcade BIT.TRIP saga is a synesthetic exploration of rhythm and music as they pertain to our everyday lives and moods. With a control scheme that’s new to the series yet wholly familiar to gamers, players have complete freedom to move about the screen wherever they desire, interacting with the music in brand new ways. The classic game-play aesthetic remains as color - and the absence of color - are explored to the fullest. Trip out in four-player co-op and get lost in the beat with a friend. See if you can survive the onslaught of Beats and further your own BIT.TRIP.

Harvest Moon: My Little Shop
Publisher: Natsume, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,200 Wii Points = $12
Description: Welcome to Clover Town, where you’ve just taken over your grandparents’ farm and shop. The town has fallen on hard times, though. People are leaving, businesses are struggling and the magic of the Harvest Sprites is gone. Can you turn Clover Town’s fortunes around and restore its missing magic? Raise crops and animals, then use what you farm at your shop. Keep your customers happy by making wild fruit juices, towering ice cream cones and extravagantly decorated eggs in a series of fun and fast-paced activities that use the Wii Remote™ controller to its fullest potential. Chop vegetables in midair, shake your Wii Remote controller to match your cow’s moves, roll eggs through tilting mazes and more. Use your hard-earned money to buy new crops and animals or expand and decorate your shop. Along the way, you’ll meet and befriend lots of new and interesting characters, as well as several familiar faces from the Harvest Moon series.

Little Tournament Over Yonder
Publisher: Gevo Entertainment
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points = $8
Description: In the world of Little Tournament Over Yonder, play as a young Prince or Princess and lead your team through numerous battles. Plan and deploy your units to gain strategic advantages. Launch real-time battles between units and fight hard, fast and smart. Build your team, hire new units with different powers, then groom them with battle experience to gain level. With strategic planning and real-time, fast-paced fighting, this game is for the complete warrior - one who works his mind and his muscles. Go for Single-Player Tournament glory or challenge your friend in a 2-Player Versus match.

This week’s new DSiWare games are:

Castle Of Magic
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points = $5
Description: Be prepared for anything as you try to save your friend from the clutches of the horrifying magician Nefastax. Stand up to wild monsters in environments that directly influence your movement. As you navigate this universe, the ground will make you stick, slide, sink, swim, levitate and even walk on the ceiling when gravity disappears. A never-before-seen use for the Nintendo DSi Camera application lets you transform yourself into powerful new forms. Visit an in-game Photo Cabin and search for a real-life object that matches the color of the character you want to transform into. Take a picture of a blue object with your Nintendo DSi system and…presto, you’re transformed into a swordfish. You can customize game items - from coins to enemies - with pictures of your choice. Our cute hero’s adventure is just too big and immersive for one screen, so he’ll have to jump between the top and bottom screens of your Nintendo DSi system. Ready to dive into the adventure?

myNotebook: Blue
Publisher: Nnooo
Players: 1
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: myNotebook allows you to take notes wherever you are. Just pop open your Nintendo DSi system and jot down your thoughts. Make a list and cross it off or play your favorite pen and paper games (games not included). You can even personalize your notebook by drawing on the cover and changing the paper type with 18 unlockable paper styles. Use the pen or pencil to make notes or doodles, then erase the bits you don’t like. With five ink colors, you’ll always be able to make your notes and doodles look stylish.

Electroplankton Luminarrow
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: Luminarrow plankton are famous for their habit of perfectly following arrow-shaped formations. The plankton spin as they move, changing directions as soon as they come in contact with an arrow that’s pointing in another direction. The pitch of the sound they make will change depending on where the arrows are positioned. There are four types of Luminarrow: red, yellow, green and blue. Each type floats at a different speed and makes a distinctive musical tone. The four types of Luminarrow drift together to create beautiful melodies. Completely alter the direction of the arrows to change their sound dramatically.

Electroplankton Sun-Animalcule
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: Sun-Animalcule plankton get their name from their tendency to emit light in a sphere around them. The plankton begin as eggs and gradually grow, emitting light and fascinating sounds throughout their entire life cycle. The sounds they make will change as they grow from infancy to maturity, growing very quickly until they disappear completely. Sun-Animalcule plankton only emerge in the morning, noon and evening. They lose strength as the night wears on; that’s when the crescent-shaped Falcato plankton take their place. The pitch of the plankton changes depending on where they grow.

Electroplankton Lumiloop
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: Lumiloop plankton are curious, donut-shaped aquatic creatures. While stationary, they have the ability to spin at a very high rate of speed. As they spin, the Lumiloop emit unique sounds and a fascinating ring-shaped glow. Lumiloop plankton seem to always grow in clusters of five. They produce sounds at different pitches as they spin together, creating a beautiful harmony. This is called a pentatonic scale. Depending on where they live, Lumiloop plankton that produce several different sounds have been identified.

Electroplankton Marine-Crystals
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: Resembling delicate snow crystals, Marine-Crystal plankton float elegantly on the surface of the water. The plankton get their name from their distinctive snowflake shape. They grow in clusters of 35 and line up in very orderly formations. When stimulated, Marine-Crystal plankton spin and produce vibrant sounds. While the plankton do grow in size if they are repeatedly tapped, they gradually return to their original size over time. They are born in four polygonal shapes: triangle, square, pentagon and hexagon. The ends of the crystalline protrusions also take on the same shapes. The tone of the sound they make will change depending on the shape of the Marine-Crystal plankton’s body.

Electroplankton Varvoice
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: Varvoice plankton memorize the sound of human speech and repeat it over and over. They accomplish this amazing feat by oscillating the long flagellum that extends from their heads. By resonating the vibration with their water-droplet-shaped body, the plankton produce sounds that closely resemble the human voice. The body can expand and contract at will. By changing shape, they can easily manipulate the sound of the voice. Words that the Varvoice memorize and play back in reverse have a particularly strange ring to them. Researchers refer to this phenomenon as Varvoice inversion.

This is the first world-exclusive reveal of a game that we will learn more about during the Video Game Awards 2009 from SpikeTV, and was released in promotion of the upcoming awards show which will be broadcast on December 12th.

We don’t really get to see much in the teaser trailer shown below, but fans will be excited to see it I’m sure.

Here is the trailer.

VGA 2009 Mystery World Premiere #1

Via 1UP

And the love starts today, with the release of the original Super Mario Kart for Super Nintendo, which started the whole cart-racing genre and shot the Mario universe characters into racing game legendry. It, of course, was the first of MANY sequels for all Nintendo platforms, the latest two entries being Mario Kart DS to Mario Kart Wii.

Super Mario Kart will cost 800 Wii Points to download when it hits the Wii Shop today (Monday, November 23rd). A nice birthday present for me. Thanks Nintendo!

This landmark entry for the Virtual Console will be followed up by the oft-requested first SNES Piliotwings game, which was a launch title for the Super Nintendo way back in 1991. It showed off the system’s then jaw-dropping Mode-7 scaling and rotation graphical effects and spawned the even more popular Pilotwings 64 sequel, which was a launch-title for the Nintendo 64.

Following that release will be one of the most highly requested games that Nintendo Wii users wanted to see for download on the Wii Virtual Console; The original N64 Super Smash Bros.

As you can read in my Super Smash Bros. 1 review, this four-player brawler made waves when it was first released in 1999 with it’s chaotic, super fun party-style gameplay. It would go on to spawn two sequels, you can read about the first in my Super Smash Bros. Melee review of the GameCube classic. While the best-selling Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii is the latest game in the series.

Still no sign of EarthBound Wii VC . . . that better be the next big release. OR ELSE!

Via GameSpot

In week 46, 2009, he talked about: Brutal Legend selling 250,000 copies, BlizzCon moving, God of War HD, and then there’s more random news. I love the Dragon Age: Origins DLC rant. And they announce the Inside Gaming Awards 2009* for November 27. Coarse language ahead.

* The Machinima Inside Gaming Awards, created specifically for gamers, with 18 wide-ranging categories such as Game of the Year, Best Game Cinematography, Best Weapon, Best Multiplayer, and Best Animation. The Machinima Inside Gaming Award nominations are announced on Nov. 27th, and the event will be broadcast on December 15.

Modern Warfare 2 is officially the best-selling game in GameStop’s history, selling over 2.5 million copies worldwide in GameStop stores within the first three days! This is only the one of many records that the game smashed, as it achieved sales of over $550 million in it’s opening week, better than any move, book or game record previously attained.

The success of Modern Warfare two will come in next quarter’s financials for GameStop though, who’s third-quarter ended on Halloween, October 31st. Modern Warfare 2 didn’t release until November 10th.

Even despite that, GameStop is having a bang-up year. Their revenues hit $1.83 BILLION so far, which is an increase of over 8.2% from last year. Net income rose an even greater 11.8% to 52.2 million. Which is largely thanks to a great rise in the sale of used games, which rose 19.4% over last year.

The best-selling games for GameStop in the third quarter of 2009 were:

1. Madden NFL 10
2. Halo 3: ODST
3. Batman: Arkham Asylum
4. NBA 2K10
5. Wii Sports Resort

GameStop expects to have a better-than-expected fourth quarter 2009 due to the extremely high sales of Modern Warfare 2, and strong starts from games like Assassin’s Creed 2 and New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Via GameSpot, Modern Warfare 2 lined up at GameStop image thanks to Sina

First week sales of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the PC were greater than that of the original game, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which makes it the most successful PC Call of Duty in the franchises history.

This is according to Activision community manager Robert “fourzerotwo” Bowling, who posted in reply to a thread about how the PC version of Modern Warfare 2 was a “flop” in the UK, due to the PC version accounting for only 3% of overall Modern Warfare 2 sales.

To the contrary, Bowling stated that this only shows how overwhelmingly successful the console edition’s are; But does not mean that the PC version was a flop in the grand scheme of things.

Modern Warfare 2 overall generated over $550 million dollars worldwide in the first five-days of release. Making it the biggest entertainment launch in history, surpassing movies like The Dark Knight, books like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and games like Grand Theft Auto 4. And, naturally, blowing sales of previous entries in the Call of Duty series out of the water in most respects.

Via GameSpot

This information was released to prove why the PSN is to be used as the basis for Sony’s upcoming SOS (Sony Online Service) initiative. Which seeks to bring all Sony online content for all devices under one umbrella via a single digital distribution platform, one that will rival (or at least challenge) Apple’s iTunes service.

The numbers revealed by Sony for the PlayStation Network are quite staggering. Here is the PSN numbers breakdown:

* As of November 16, 2009, PSN has 33 million registered users.
* An average of 5.4 million people log onto the PlayStation Network each day.
* Of those 5.4 million who log on to the PSN, 1.4 million visit the PlayStation Store.
* A beyond whopping, mind-numbing 25 PB (That’s petabytes) of content are downloaded from the PSN every month.
* 25 PB is enough content to fill up 5,000 single-layer DVDs.
* The PlayStation Network currently offers 2,417 movies, 15,042 TV shows and 10,000 “extra items” like themes and game demos, that users can purchase and download.
* Sony expects to sell $562.6 million dollars worth of content (or “goods”) via the PlayStation Network for the current fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2010. This is a threefold increase over last year.

In addition to the above, Sony also revealed a PSN premium paid subscription service model that will go into effect next year, as well as 3D PS3 support for 2010.

Via GameSpot

This includes the PlayStation 3 and PSP Go, but reaches much further beyond Sony’s gaming platforms and includes Sony-branded PCs, TVs, Blu-ray Players, mobile devices, set-top boxes, mp3 players, E-reader electronic book handhelds and anything else that connects to an online, Sony service.

And the backbone of this entire SOS system (a temporary name that stands for “Sony Online Service) is the PlayStation Network itself.

Sony intends to use the PSN as the foundation for this new platform. They will then build on it to make it compatible with all Sony devices. Which will apparently mean that anything available on PSN that isn’t a platform-specific media, will be available instantly on any Sony device, as long as the device you are using is compatible with that content.

To understand how uniform this service will actually be, Sony has already revealed that a single user ID will be compatible across any Sony device that uses the SOS. The ultimate goal of all this is to not only connect each device to one single platform, but to encourage users to buy more content and additional Sony devices/products because of the shared SOS, a common content distribution system, that they all can tap into.

Speaking about the PSN being the SOS’ backbone, Kaz Hirai explained,

“The service will be launched economically and quickly by leveraging the PlayStation Network service platform. For example, key assets for creating a network service management system, payment system, and content distribution system will be shared with the PSN platform so that initial investment risk can be minimized. The introduction of new mobile products that are network enabled will be a key part of this process, as mobile products which users turn to throughout the day will be a key entry point to this service.”

Sony did not reveal a date or launch window for the SOS.

Via GameSpot

This is a big deal because Sony’s online service with the PlayStation 3 has always remained free (with paid content coming in the form of certain DLC for specific games or for video rentals/purchases) and is thus one of the system’s biggest selling points when compared to the Xbox 360. Whose online service costs $50 a year for a Gold membership that allows you to play games with others online and access other features.

The reason for this shift is Sony’s determination to make its videogames business profitable by next year. And they have realized how much money they COULD be getting that they aren’t currently.

Don’t be too worried though, Sony understands that they’re consumers would be outraged if the online play was subscription-based, thus all of the PS3’s current services will remain free, with the premium subscription model of additional services laid overtop for those willing to shell out the extra cash (pricing wasn’t disclosed).

“Current services” include online play and all that the PlayStation Network currently entails, Netflix movie streaming, PlayStation Home, Facebook integration, etc.

“SCE will further increase sales by offering users new entertainment through the combination of hardware, software, peripheral, and PlayStation Network,” Hirai said in a statement given to British outlets, such as CVG. “Especially in the online area, we are studying the possibility of introducing a subscription model, offering premium content and services, in addition to the current free services.” (Emphasis added.)

This will build on the profitability that Sony is already seeing revenue-wise, as the current fiscal year that ends on March 31, 2010 is expected to earn Sony in the league of $563 million dollars, which is a threefold increase over last year.

Via GameSpot

Announced at their latest media and investors briefing, Sony plans to have full support of the 3D technology by way of the PS3 by 2011 or 2012, with integration beginning next year.

And instead of having to release a 3D upgraded PS3 system that you’d have to buy in order to game in 3D, Sony will be releasing a firmware update instead that will allow all existing PS3 systems to display in 3D mode.

Sony is also working on upcoming games that will be built with 3D in mind. In addition to working on 3D games themselves, they are also pushing third-parties to work on upcoming PS3 games built for 3D.

Here is Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai talking about Sony’s 2010 3D strategy:

“Next year, in tandem with the Sony 3D TV product launch, PS3 also plans to launch 3D game titles–not just first party, but we are actively supporting third-party software developers 3D game development,” Hirai said. “Finally, I’d like to announce here today that all PS3 sold since the 2006 launch will support 3D through firmware update.”

“HDMi enables high-quality output of 3D video, and the cell processor’s SPU performs video decoding which allow us to support new codecs through a software update,” Hirai continued. “As a result, through a network software update, our customers will be able to instantly enjoy 3D games without replacing their existing PS3 consoles.”

And it’s not just future games that will be able to be displayed in 3D, but Sony has also indicated that previously released games can also be displayed in 3D if you have the right TV for it.

The first stereoscopic 3D game is James Cameron’s Avatar movie-based game and is currently available.

Personally I don’t know what to think of all this 3D talk. I’ve yet to see a movie in 3D . . . and I wonder if it would be uncomfortable or strain the eyes to play a prolonged game experience in 3D. Then again, if the game is BUILT for it, then that could be pretty cool. I’m imagining a Castlevania game where you are running through hallways with spikes and blades coming AT YOU that you must dodge. Or even a fighting game where all the punches and kicks are popping out towards you. Could be interesting, and I think Sony is smart for being the first to throw their weight behind this.

Via GameSpot

What follows is a listing of the Top 50 bestsellers per region, for all systems combined.

North America’s Top 50:

1. New Super Mario Bros. (Wii)
2. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii)
3. Wii Sports Resort with Wii MotionPlus Accessory (Wii)
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
5. Mario Kart with Wii Wheel (Wii)
6. Guitar Hero 5 Guitar Bundle (Wii)
7. Assassin’s Creed II (Xbox 360)
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3)
9. Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360)
10. God of War: Collection (PS3)
11. Assassin’s Creed II (PS3)
12. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
13. Mario & Luigi Bowser’s Inside Story (DS)
14. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
15. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
16. Toy Story Mania! (Wii)
17. Wii Play with Wii Remote (Wii)
18. Guitar Hero World Tour Band Kit for Wii Deluxe Kit (Wii)
19. Rock Band 2 Special Edition (Wii)
20. The Sims 3: World Adventures Expansion Pack (PC, Mac)
21. Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2010 with Gun Bundle (Wii)
22. Dragon Age: Origins (PC)
23. Guitar Hero 5 Guitar Bundle (Xbox 360)
24. Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (Wii)
25. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
26. Lego Rock Band (Wii)
27. Halo 3: ODST (Xbox 360)
28. Dragon Age: Origins (Xbox 360)
29. The Beatles: Rock Band Special Value Edition (Wii)
30. Guitar Hero 5 Guitar Bundle (PS3)
31. Scribblenauts (DS)
32. Mario Kart DS (DS)
33. The Beatles: Rock Band (Wii)
34. The Biggest Loser (Wii)
35. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Wii)
36. Bakugan Battle Brawlers Collector’s Edition with NAGA Collector Bakugan Ball (DS)
37. Madden NFL 10 (PS3)
38. EA Sports Active (Wii)
39. Style Savvy (DS)
40. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
41. FIFA Soccer 10 (PS3)
42. Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle (Wii)
43. Disney Sing It: Pop Hits Bundle (Wii)
44. Borderlands (Xbox 360)
45. DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable (Xbox 360)
46. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (DS)
47. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time (PS3)
48. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
49. The Sims 3 (PC, Mac)
50. Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey (Wii)

Japan’s Top 50:

1. Tomodachi [Friend/Mii] Collection (DS)
2. Wii Fit Plus - Set with Wii Balance Board (Wii)
3. Steins; Gate - Limited Edition (Xbox 360)
4. Pokemon SoulSilver Version (DS)
5. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
6. Pokemon HeartGold Version (DS)
7. Love Plus (DS)
8. Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360)
9. J. League Football Club Tsukurou! 6 Pride of J Zico (PSP)
10. Wizardry: Wedge of Life - Amazon.co.jp Limited Edition (DS)
11. Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 (PS3)
12. Dragon Quest IX: Defenders of the Starry Sky (DS)
13. Persona 3 Portable (PSP)
14. More Prince of Prince of Tennis School Festival - More Sweet Edition (DS)
15. Wii Sports Resort including white Wii MotionPlus (Wii)
16. Taiko Drum Master Wii: Do Don and the Second Generation including Taiko Drum controller (Wii)
17. The 4 Warriors of Light: Final Fantasy Gaiden (DS)
18. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G - The Best of PSP Collection (PSP)
19. Elminage II: Earth Goddess of Fate and Twin (PSP)
20. Taiko Drum Master Wii: Do Don and the Second Generation (Wii)
21. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
22. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
23. Inazuma Eleven 2: The Threat of Aggression - Blizzard Edition (DS)
24. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
25. Inazuma Eleven 2: The Threat of Aggression - Fire Edition (DS)
26. Bayonetta (Xbox 360)
27. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3)
28. Infamous (PS3)
29. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3)
30. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune - The Best of PlayStation 3 (PS3)
31. Left 4 Dead 2 (PC)
32. SimCity 4 Deluxe (PC)
33. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (PC)
34. Monster Hunter Frontier Online Season 6.0 Premium Package (PC)
35. Aikido Nobunaga’s Ambition (PC)
36. Ragnarok Online RWC2009: Memorial Package (PC)
37. Final Fantasy XI Vana’diel Collection 2 (PC)
38. The Sims 3 (PC)
39. Resident Evil 5 (PC)
40. Civilization IV: Deluxe Pack (PC)
The rest of the Top 50 was rounded out by popular pre-orders:
41. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)
42. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
43. Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie (DS)
44. Phantasy Star Portable 2 - Amazon.co.jp exclusive edition with two special CD singles (PSP)
45. Tales of Graces - Special Edition including Tales dress costume download code and Tales DVD (Wii)
46. Professor Layton and the Devil’s Flute including coin charm inspired whistle (DS)
47. Professor Layton and the Devil’s Flute (DS)
48. Mobile Suit Gundam Gundam VS. NEXT PLUS Gundam (PSP)
49. Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (PSP)
50. Ar Tonelico 3: The Girl’s Song that Pulls the Trigger of World’s Demise (PS3)

Europe’s Top 50:

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3)
3. New Super Mario Brothers (Wii)
4. Wii Sports Resort with Wii MotionPlus Accessory (Wii)
5. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
6. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
7. Assassin’s Creed II (Xbox 360)
8. Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box (DS)
9. Mario Kart with Wii Wheel (Wii)
10. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii)
11. Assassin’s Creed II (PS3)
12. FIFA 10 (Xbox 360)
13. Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360)
14. Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360)
15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PC)
16. Professor Layton and The Curious Village (DS)
17. FIFA 10 (PS3)
18. Wii Fit (Wii)
19. Football Manager 2010 (PC, Mac)
20. Wii Play with Wii Remote Controller (Wii)
21. Halo 3: ODST (Xbox 360)
22. Formula 1 2009 (Wii)
23. Need For Speed: Shift (PS3)
24. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (DS)
25. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
26. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Wii)
27. Invizimals - with Camera and Trap (PSP)
28. Rabbids Go Home (Wii)
29. Left 4 Dead 2 (PC)
30. Need For Speed: Shift (Xbox 360)
31. Singstar: Take That (PS3)
32. FIFA 10 (PSP)
33. Junior Brain Trainer DS (DS)
34. Toy Story Mania (Wii)
35. Mario Kart DS (DS)
36. The Sims 3 (PC, Mac)
37. The Sims 3: World Adventures - Expansion Pack (PC, Mac)
38. EyePet - with Camera and Magic Card (PS3)
39. Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (Wii)
40. Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (Xbox 360)
41. Dragon Age: Origins (Xbox 360)
42. FIFA 10 (Wii)
43. LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
44. Dragon Age: Origins (PC)
45. Singstar: Take That (PS2)
46. WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 (Xbox 360)
47. Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (DS)
48. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
49. WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 (PS3)
50. Formula 1 - Bundle (Wii)

To recap the top games per system: New Super Mario Bros. Wii remains on first place on the Wii and overall chart. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 stays put on the Xbox 360 & PS3 charts. Dragon Age: Origins remains top dog on the PC chart. Mario & Luigi Bowser’s Inside Story stay on top of the DS chart. Madden NFL 10 remains on the PS2 chart. And lastly, LittleBigPlanet arrives on the PSP chart.

Sales data collected from Amazon’s US, JPN (PC) & UK / DE / FR websites.
PS: Since everyone keeps asking, her name is Mayte Carranco.

As a big thank you from both Josh and me, we wanted to celebrate this occasion with something that would make you smile. So here are some amazing retro gaming mashups, enjoy!

Contra VS. Duck Hunt parody:

Sonic VS. Pac-Man parody:

Mortal Kombat VS. Donkey Kong parody:

R-Type VS. Space Invaders parody:

Grand Theft Auto VS. Frogger parody:

Via Daneboe

What’s more, Pitt may actually STAR in the movie as well being on the production side. Films that Plan B has created include The Departed, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. They are also producing Kick-Ass, a movie scheduled for next-year from Wanted author Mark Miller.

Here is the synopsis for Dark Void:

Dark Void delivers a ground breaking combination of fast paced vertical combat mixed with mid-air and on-foot action.

“Something is consuming our universe, a vast and ancient force almost beyond our comprehension. Millions of years ago, the minions of that power found their way to the 3rd planet of an unremarkable yellow star. Ours. The race they created came to call their masters “The Watchers.” For millennia we knew them as gods and served their dark purposes, but a few humans developed extraordinary powers. They were known as the Adepts and they rose up, banishing The Watchers into a parallel universe, where they’ve manipulated and schemed from afar. Until now.”

In addition to the upcoming film announcement, Capcom also pushed the game release back a week to January 19th, 2010 in North America and January 22, 2010 in Europe. It will be released on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Via Variety

Included in the Hyundai Genesis Coupe Car Pack are the following vehicles:

1. Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe
2. HKS Genesis Coup
3. A one-of-a-kind “Forza Motorsport 3″ Genesis Coupe.

“Now fans have the opportunity to expand their already-epic “Forza Motorsport 3” car rosters and experience for themselves several iconic variations of the 300-horsepower Genesis Coupe,” says developer Turn 10.

Additionally, the “Hot Holidays Car Pack” is also coming and will be released on December 8th. Unlike the above pack though, this one will cost you 400 Microsoft Points. But will feature some of the world’s most anticipated super cars and purpose-built race cars of 2010, including the recently unveiled Ferrari 458 Italia. To give players a taste of the “Hot Holidays Car Pack,” the brand new 2010 Audi S4 will be available as a free download.

“Since each of the vehicles in the “Hot Holidays Car Pack” comes with its own fanfare and unique place in motorsports’ present and future, the team at Turn 10 will be unveiling and diving deeper into each car over the next two weeks on Forzamotorsport.net. Auto aficionados should be sure to tune in for daily photo trivia contests to guess the model, make, and year of each car, with the chance to win real prizes and other in-game rewards within “Forza Motorsport 3.”"

If you haven’t heard of this game, then you are definitely in for a treat.

I’ll actually let the funny press release speak for itself:

Atlus has licensed the rights to your childhood memories. Pixels rule again in the ultimate retro action-adventure game 3D Dot Game Heroes for PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, slated to land in North America on May 11, 2010.

“The 8- and 16-bit classics many gamers cut their teeth on are magical, down to their blocky sprites and elegantly simple gameplay,” mused Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales for Atlus, while twirling his rattail and wearing a poorly coordinated denim-on-denim outfit. “3D Dot Game Heroes captures all of that legendary charm and more, bringing classic visuals, familar sounds, and a grand sense of exploration and discovery into stunning next-gen realization, all the while giving countless winks and nudges to the fans those iconic games mean the most to. This is pure action-adventure gaming at its finest, a true love-letter to a time-honored genre,” he added while putting baseball cards in the spokes of his 10-speed.

Here is a trailer for this amazing looking game. I can’t wait to play it!

And here is a purely gameplay video. Hopefully epic music has simply yet to be inserted.

The new downloadable content for the newest racing game in the long-running Need for Speed series, will be released worldwide on December 1st on Xbox Live and December 3rd on the PSN (December 10th for Europe).

The DLC is called the “Team Racing Pack” and includes a new mode called the “Team Racing Mode” which features two teams of up to six racers facing off against each other.

It also includes five new cars. They are:

1. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427
2. 1967 Shelby GT-500
3. 1969 Dodge Charger R/T
4. 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
5. 1998 Toyota Supra Mark IV

Note that if you purchased a digital version of Borderlands, you will need to get the patch from your distributor (such as Steam or Direct2Drive), you cannot simply download the Borderlands patch 1.0.1 from Gearbox.

Here is the list of updates in the newest patch:

* Characters that have lost skill points will have the lost points refunded.
* Clients will no longer lose proficiency progress upon leaving a co-op game.
* Item cards now display the intended five lines of detail text.
* Lilith’s Phase strike and melee attacks from Phase Walk now function as intended.
* Voicechat: users can now control volume and individually mute players.
* Fixed a bug that sometimes caused CL4P-TP to stop progressing during the introduction.
* Server browser population times have been improved.
* Server information should now always display the correct plot mission.
* Benchmarking feature now works as intended.
* Nvidia 3D Vision visuals now render shadows correctly (requires minimum 195.28 drivers, available from nVidia).