david.dakota

Just about to ask for a feed. GoNIntendo is right buggered.

The two approaches are similar, but Nintendo's is much simpler. Sony's expands on the Avatar idea, and its a nice to see the technology can do such complex things but ultimately Nintendo's characatures are far more charming.

I once saw a TV programme about cock cosmetic surgery. This one chap decided to have his vertically split from under the galns to the base. The result was a cock that looked like ring donut standin up. I'm not sure why he did this, but it's be so much easier to cross you cock with a ring donut one. Back on subject. Hope Miyamoto spills some beans, but then nintendo has said that its not goint to realease anything new....

Regardless, EA are showing some great Wii support and that can only be good.

This will prove extremely effective for the protection of children. They'll be able to smell who is a geniune "nice boy, aged 14" rather than a stinky, chain smoking man of 40.

Like it or lump it, Wii is no HD machine. Sony and Microsoft are making a big deal of HD "its the future of gaming", "you've not seen anything like it" and other snippets are all well and good for marketing their gaming beasts. But are we being encouraged to jump ship too early? Take a look at your DVD collection for a moment. Standard definition DVDs utilise each and every pixel on your standard definition TV - using your TV to the max. Now, take a CGI animation (Shrek, Monsters Inc, Final Fantasy: Spirits Within) and compare the image with current Wii Games, heck, even XBox 360 (and PS3) games and you'll notice that there is still massive improvements to be made in standard defintion. The processing power needed to create a full 3D gaming world looking as solid as Monsters Inc would be huge, but surely we know that its acheivable. A lot of processing power in the 360 and PS3 is being dedicated to delivering increased resolution for HD, a waste considering there is still more improvements in SD. I'm not trying to slate any machine, rather insisting that HD gaming is not the be all and end all. What are your thoughts?

Fish has reminded me of Multiplayer. I haven't unlocked it yet - how do you do this? **EDIT*** Just as i clicked "post", i recall i've never actually played the game with a second remote synched.... perhaps thats why...

Moria, Sky have the rights to 'broadcast', while seperate agreements deal with VOD content. I've noticed one or two are under the impression that VM is more expensive that Sky. Incorrect. Sky's basic package is £15 per month for two mixes (plus BT line rental), while VM offer FREE digital TV is you subscribe to any phone package (£11.00) per month. Bargain,.

Its all a rather unfortunate mess, which has suddenly affected viewers. Sky is the main player in the TV market, and are fiercly territorial about their market position. Sky has in the past subdued all other competitors including the cable companies (Telewest, NTL and Wight) and wiped out ONdigital/ITV Digital and other cable operators like Aberdeen Cable. The agressive path Sky has taken over the past 20 years or so was inevitably going to lead to massive consolidation in the Pay-TV market (economies of scale you see), Tiscali has bought out Broadband TV provider Homechoice (a further potential acquisition for Virgin Media), NTL/Telewest/Virgin and more will follow. However, it is ONLY Virgin who stand to make any dent in Sky's huge subscriber base - and has the subscriber numbers to squeeze better carriage aggrements - and this is the current problem. Virgin don't want to pay a huge increase to carry Sky's "basic" package - and when you consider that Sky One's viewing figures have dropped considerably over the few years, you understand why Virgin won't sign. Sky is (either perpously or neglectfully) overestimating the channel's worth. Despite massive investment in Sky One, average viewing figures record just seven hundred and fourty thousand (with only Lost breaking the 1m barrier). It makes no sense for Virgin to pay. Recently (and not reported in the media so far) is that Sky has massively dropped the prices it pays for Virgin's channels (including Bravo, Living) Virgin's solution seems to be to purchase shows for Video on Demand: they've already secured LOST Series 1, 2 and 3 for VoD, the brilliant Greys Anatomy and are working on getting 24 and a whole host of others. This year they'll be bidding against Sky for top US shows. The shows you love WILL be heading to Virgin shortly... And your Sports and Movie channels are protected by a regulated "fair pricing" rate card. Sky can't unfairly increase these prices. Movies and Sport are also being dispursed to many broadcasters (Setanta and Virgin hold broadcast rights to some top FA games, so Sky may not necessarily be the best place for football from 2008. Also, an issue of contention is ITV. NTL (now Virgin) were busy prepping a bid for the UK's ITV PLC (main commercial TV broadcaster for those unaware). This would have proven a lucrative deal for both ITV and NTL. Sky however stealthily purchased over 18% in ITV PLC, effectively blocking any potential bid by NTL. Sky has lost money on this purchase, and are likely not going to recoup it; most agree that the only motivation for Sky was to block a massive expansion of NTL. The combined ITV/NTL would be in a far better position to bid for content, and ultimately not be so relaint on Sky for programming. This is now to be investigated by OFcom (and will most likely open a large can of worms for Sky) - incidently a decision supported by Virgin but not Sky. All that said, neither company is going anywhere. For all the bloodshed Virgin and Sky are both here for the long haul. Sky will continue to do what they do, while Virgin snap at their heals for customers, content and ITV. Its probably also worth mentioning that Virgin are planning to match Sky's 'reception footprint' by providing content by Broadband, with roll out later this year.

I'm extremely impressed with this. I've completed four cups to Excite mode, and working through those S-ranks. Now, out of interest whats left for me to do. Someone mentioned a Diamond cup...

Hopefully, these do not reflect the finalised version. However, i'm doubtful.

I've recently started to purhcase a couple of things on ebay, paying by paypal. i've not noticed it before, but i seem to be making payments which are "e-cheques". They take a few days to clear, which is holding up the transaction. Whats happened, and can i make faster payments?

I'm hoping that this game turns out well. Its certainly an intriguing title for Nintendo. However, its not looking outstanding at the moment which is why I wouldnt mind some major delays on the game - get it right and it could be a real winner.

Because all military generals have their secret Wattalions.

A new Wii might include DVD playback, but since my DVD player is much better than a scratty add-in I won't mind too much. More likely Perrin Kaplan is discussing new colours, and most people are jumping to the wrong conclusions. On the subject of Perrin, i'd like to admit that I think she's hot.

I believe Kuju are being 'inspired' by the current war in Iraq. Taken from IGN: Hopefully, we'll see a bit more of the morality of war. PS, i'm selling the DS version of Wars, click my signature for details

Looks glorious. I adored the first, and looking forward to BWii muchly. Its such a shame that it didn't do that well, but with Wii's increasing user base, hopefully BWii will show some healthy sales figures and ensure the series continues.

As i recall Nintendo licensed the rights to the film and passed development duties to Rare. Rare becomes subcontracted to code the game and therefore when they hand the work over to Nintendo upon completion they also hand the code and rights to them also. Its like a building firm who are contracted to build a new block of flats, they might do the work, but don't own the buiding. At least i think that's be the case. Back to this weeks VC titles. Kid Icarus! The N64 game is bound to be Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Surely anything else would've been noted on US or Japanese VC release schedules.

I'd say SEGA would pop any Shenmue sequal on 360.

I was really looking forward to Sonic, now i'm not so sure. Mainly from Matts review, (the stop button idea seems plain daft). I'll probably give it a rent at some point.

Is the UK launch date known?

Goldeneye would require a formal agreement between Nintendo (who probably own the code), EON Pictures (who own the Bond rights) and Activision (who now own the rights to make Bond games). I can't see that its too difficult. I don't think Rare or MIcrosoft would actually feature in this agreement.

Yup, several times. They say it was going to be sent for release, then it was sent last friday, then was going to be sent Monday, and the latest is it was sent Friday.

Has anyone actually received the free game promised by Gameplay? When did it arrive, and what title did you choose? I'm still waiting for Excitetruck, which was promised to be delivered on day of release. Anyone else experiencing a delay?

Has anyone got an email address for Sega Europe Custmer services? I'm struggling to find one.