UK Videogames

Real family games for Nintendo?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:09:24 -0800

Can we still class The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, even Mario Kart as family games? The latest As Seen on TV titles from Koch Media suggest otherwise.

Family Fortunes, Countdown, Ready Steady Cook, I'm a Celebrity, Beat the Intro and The Ultimate Red Ball Challenge. You'll have heard of most if not all of these, they're famous prime-time TV shows watched by all the family. Now they're Nintendo Wii and DS games, or soon will be. Nothing fancy, just functioning as you would hope. ...

Tried to make you go to rehab...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:59:55 -0800

Britain’s first residential rehabilitation centre for games addicts has opened its doors, and patients already queuing up to get in.

Broadway Lodge, in Weston-super-Mare, treats around 400 clients a year who are usually dependent on more everyday temptations such as drink, drugs and gambling. ...

Always-on internet access for next DS?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:16:21 -0800

Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, has hinted that the next generation of DS handhelds may include 3G internet access as standard.

Alas this promising concept is little more than idle speculation at the moment, although Mr. Iwata is plainly very warm to the idea. He even thinks that unlimited high-speed access to the internet should be free for DS customers, as long as they’re willing to pay a little extra for the necessary hardware. ...

New big-screen Nintendo DSi announced

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:06:54 -0800

Nintendo has officially unveiled a larger-screened DSi and it’s launching this side of Xmas in Japan.

The DSi LL, as it is clumsily known, is designed with some of the unit’s secondary functions in mind. Browsing the internet, using it as a music player, reading books on it, viewing photos etcetera will all be easier thanks to the new model’s 4.2 inch screens. ...

Big Trouble with Little Chinatown

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:03:25 -0800

We really don't understand why Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars isn't topping the charts this week. Perhaps you have some answers?

We'd just like to raise the question of why so very few gamers are buying the brilliant new GTA for PSP and Nintendo DS. The situation is genuinely confusing. Not even a blip on the all formats Top 40 this week for the PSP edition, which entered the PSP chart at Number 4 behind the other newcomer WWE Smackdown. ...

Wii Fit Plus gets NHS approval

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:42:23 -0800

Video games have taken more than their fare share of blame for promoting indolence and the ongoing epidemic that is childhood obesity. Thus it’s all the more unexpected that the very same government department that created TV adverts actively discouraging kids from playing games should now lend its support to one of them.

The game in question is Wii Fit Plus, Nintendo’s newest set of physical jerks and yoga-style stretches for its cleverclogs Balance Board peripheral. ...

FIFA 10 vs. PES 2010

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:34:00 -0800

Our national sport is as fiercely contested on games consoles as it is every weekend on grass across the land. This season the battle between the league leaders is closer than ever, so which do you think gets closest to the beautiful game?

We're focusing on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions of EA's FIFA 10 and Konami's PES 2010 as both are claiming to be the future of the modern game. ...

Double the fun at Half-Term

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:44:13 -0800

Many of the best videogames now allow for co-operative as well as competitive gameplay. We take a look at some of the best to enjoy with your family from Monday.

You'll excuse the stereotype scenarios here, but we're sure you can pick and mix from the selections listed. Girls love football too, and plenty of lads love singing... no they really do.

So here goes... ...

PlayStation 3: Call it a comeback?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:30:36 -0800

According to the mutterings of bitter rivals, the PlayStation 3 is only selling well at the moment because of a <i>“short term bump”</i> of interest following the launch of the PS3 Slim. Fortunately such words are like water off a duck’s back for Sony. In any case the newly-released NPD numbers for US sales do the loudest talking...

September’s figures are decent for all consoles, although none moreso than the PS3 with 491,800 units shifted. ...

Band Hero featuring Adam Levine

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:13:38 -0800

Yahoo! UK Games and Activision have teamed up to bring you this exclusive interview with Maroon 5 frontman and ace guitarist Adam Levine. ...