Ah, this is refreshing. I don’t say that as a fanboy of any particular console, but more as the person who digs through the NPD data every month. It’s nice to see something different!

The PlayStation 3 has a good start this year with 269,000 units sold, beating out Microsoft’s number of 230,000. I’m glad to see that Sony didn’t go for the “in your face, Microsoft” approach for this victory, and I’ve applauded their humble tone before, but the release title unapologetically proclaims that “PS3 Outsells Xbox 360; PlayStation Brand Outsells Competition Combined.” Ah, we’ll give it to them this month. Good job, sirs and gents.

Microsoft is quick to mention shortages. There hasn’t really been any serious shortage problems in the past, and it seems kind of funny that the news hits the same time as these NPD numbers, but our own quick checks with retailers seems to prove this true. In my own research, I couldn’t find an Xbox 360 today at all, but then again, the PS3, Wii, and especially the  DS are also in short supply. What’s going on here?

As in the past, people continue to spend more on their Xbox 360s. Microsoft’s release says that $159 million was spent on Xbox 360 games in January compared to $131 million on Wii and $80 million for PS3. This may have something to do with six of the top ten games being Xbox 360 titles. You know these titles; I don’t have to tell you their names.

So, to boil these two releases down: Sony says they sold more systems, Microsoft says that they sold more games. Microsoft says that the Xbox 360 brand sold more than the PS3 or Wii, but Sony answers that the PlayStation brand sold more than anything. Whatever! I’m still waiting on Nintendo’s, but you all know what that will say already.

Things should become really interesting in the next couple of months. I predict that Sony’s momentum will continue, with high-profile releases like Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Metal Gear Solid 4, SingStar, Grand Theft Auto IV, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2, and more on the horizon. Wait, does this make me a fanboy? 

Damned if you do, right? Full releases after the jump.

Last month I posted the following picture as the supposed final box art for Mario Kart Wii… well today this has been confirmed according to GoNintendo.

I had a feeling when I first saw it last month that this was going to be confirmed as the final boxart. Overall, it’s a pretty neat looking box design… what do you think?

From team-xecuter.com:
[QUOTE]
Having working out the cost of this kit we can make it much cheaper.
1 Kit $9.95 each
10 Kits $8.95 each
50 Kits $6.95 each
100 Kits $5.95 each

I’ll get these shipped out asap then you can try for yourselves.
[/QUOTE]

There’s a reason that Microsoft issued a preemptive damage control statement earlier today about its current supply issues with the Xbox 360—the console is sitting at the bottom of the NPD Group’s January 2008 sales charts with an atypically low 230,000 units sold in the United States. We wouldn’t be at all surprised if Nintendo chalks up less than mind-blowing sales of the Wii and Nintendo DS to similar supply problems later tonight. The post-holiday race looks pretty much like a dead heat.

• Wii - 274,000
• PlayStation 3 - 269,000
• Nintendo DS - 251,000
• PlayStation Portable - 230,000
• Xbox 360 - 230,000

But lets give it up for the PlayStation 3. As I predicted in last week’s episode of GameTrailers TV, the console outsold Microsoft’s box last month, which makes me pretty much the smartest person in the room. Curiously though, no PlayStation 2 hardware numbers were provided by the NPD Group, and we hope to get the data from Sony themselves when they gloat.

Oh you know we just love robots around here. The latest Secret Agent Clank trailer for the PSP just proves how badass robots really are. No release date still, but it looks to be coming along really nicely.

It’s not often that a PSP game gets me excited. What do you all think about Secret Agent Clank?

[Side note: Yes, I said adorable. It is adorable! SHUT UP! STOP MAKING FUN OF ME! I’M TELLING NIERO!!!!!!!] 

With both titles slightly visible on the horizon, which of the two are you more excited about… Super Smash Bros. Brawl or Mario Kart Wii?

Let’s say you have a crisp $50 in your pocket, and you want a new game. You venture down to your local game store to find they have sold every game in the store… except for 1 copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and 1 copy of Mario Kart Wii. Which one do you buy… and why?

Personally, I think I would have to go with Mario Kart Wii. I can’t really see myself playing SSBB for an extended period of time.

So what is your choice? Leave a comment with your answer.

From teamxbox.com:
[QUOTE]
ChannelCincinnati.com reports that Xbox Live has become sexual predators’ new playground as the online gaming service for the Xbox 360 allows pedophiles to lurk online and communicate with children through headsets and instant messages. WLWT Cincinnati reports:

The FBI has investigated cases in southern Ohio, where sexual predators have used game systems such as Xbox 360 to target children.
“A pedophile is talking to a child, they are gaining their trust and understanding, and then tries to engage in that next level, which is taking them from the cyber world to the physical world,” said Douglas Roden, an FBI forensic examiner.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: teamxbox.com

Ever since EA’s CEO John Riccitiello’s slideshow extravaganza, the Internet has been pointing to this as unmistakable proof that KOTOR III was already underway. Unfortunately, EA has been quick to squash the rumor, with the hope of Star Wars fans along with it. That’s what the “official” stance is saying, of course — and we all know how versatile they can be:

 ”The slide in John’s presentation is titled ‘Best Creative Talent’–it addresses future and past titles. “KOTOR, Black, Boogie, Skate and some other titles on the slide speak to past portfolio releases and the pedigree of the studio but do not specifically address future sequels.”

Even though the second one was attacked as being an unfinished game, KOTOR undeniably has a solid fanbase. Forget about Halo for a second, and think about how many of you bought an Xbox just for the chance to play Bioware’s RPG? Quite a few, I’d suppose. It would surprise no one if KOTOR III was announced somewhere down the line, and even fewer that EA had ambitions of turning it into an annual franchise with yearly costume updates (I kid!).

Then again, what is stopping George Lucas from seeking other talent to carry on the good name? In the land of Star Wars, the flannelled one is king. Question is…what does he want?

[ShackNews, Via CVG — Thanks, Adam!] 

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love in all its many forms. Love is an ongoing theme throughout human history, from the age of myths to the information age. It’s in our books, the television and movies we watch, and yes - it’s in our video games. In honor of that sweetest of four-letter words, I give you my top five video game love stories.

5. Billy Lee and Marian - Double Dragon (Arcade)

This one could really go either way. At the beginning of the first Double Dragon, Billy Lee’s girlfriend Marian is kidnapped by the Black Warriors, who want the secrets of the Sōsetsuken martial art in exchange for the girl. Billy and his brother Jimmy fight their way through four stages of enemies in order to secure Billy’s woman, only to get into a fight at the very end for Marian’s affection. If Billy wins it’s a beautiful love story. If Jimmy wins she’s either a flighty hussy or so terrified Jimmy will beat her up to that she has no choice but to go with him. Either way, not the best love story. Bah, like it matters anyway - Marian gets shot dead at the beginning of the second game. Bastards.

4. Dante and Trish - Devil May Cry Series (PS2)

If the best girl a man can find is one that reminds him of his mother, then Dante has certainly hit the jackpot. Created by the demon lord Mundus during the first game to resemble the devil hunter’s mother Eva, Trish wound up developing feelings for Dante, helping him to defeat Mundus and ending up as his partner. While the fact that her feelings stem from being made in his mother’s image is kind of creepy if you stop and think about it, there’s no denying Trish and Dante were made for each other - well, at least she was.

3. Jackie Estacado and Jenny - The Darkness (Xbox 360, PS3)

This pair grew up together as orphans, and mob thug Jackie spent most of his life shielding the innocent and sweet Jenny from the horrors of the seedy underworld he moved about in. If I had to pick the single most emotionally charged moment in gaming from last year, it would be the moment Jackie Estacado and his girlfriend Jenny cease to be a couple, so to speak. I won’t ruin for anyone who still hasn’t played the game, but I got so f***king angry I stayed up the whole night to finish the game.

2.Tidus and Yuna - Final Fantasy X (PS2)

A summoner of Yevon destined to die, Yuna finds the man of her dreams in mismatched pants leg blitzball star Tidus. Unfortunately, over the course of Final Fantasy X we learn the Tidus is the man of the fayth’s dreams as well, with the end of the game finding him fading away as he desperately tries to hold onto her. Their love was so strong that Squaresoft created the first direct sequel to a Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy X-2, which features Yuna going all Charlie’s Angels with Rikku and newcomer Paine in order to find her lost man. Do they reunite? Depends on how well you play the game.

1.Oswald and Gwendolyn - Odin Sphere (PS2)

A true example of the classical fantasy romance, the story of the Shadow Knight Oswald and the Valkyrie Gwendolyn, daughter of Demon Lord Odin, is one that could easily have been lifted directly from ancient mythology. Two confused souls who find love where they least expect it, culminating in Gwendolyn traveling to the netherworld to retrieve her love’s soul from Queen Odette of Endelphia - pretty much the devil herself. The story in full is told through two separate chapters of the game, detailing first Gwendolyn’s falling in love with Oswald and then turning the tables in the fourth chapter to show how Oswald likewise lost his heart. One of the most moving love stories I’ve encountered in a video game, and truly worth of the top spot.

And there you have it. Now I don’t expect you to agree with my choices. Hearts are as varied as the stars in the sky and we all see love in a different light, so I’d expect you have your own personal favorite gaming love story. Feel free to post your own picks in the comments section. After all, caring is sharing! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Yeah, it’s the same Suda your thinking of… Goichi Suda, developer of Killer 7 and the recently released No More Heroes. If your not familiar with Suda 51 he’s well known for making violent games for adults.

According to ComputerandVideoGames, he recently spoke with Nintendo Official Magazine UK where he said…

“Maybe Mario could wear an Italian suit and have a machine gun,” he hypothesised, adding, “But Nintendo probably wouldn’t like that idea.”

Sounds to me he wants to make a mobster style game starring everyones favorite Italian plumber… but I don’t even think for a second that Nintendo would go for this.

What do you think about it? Leave a comment with your thoughts.