The NewYork times is running an article which looks at the growing the support the Wii has gained from third party publishers since its launch. One of the most flattering comments comes from a THQ executive who claims the Wii is a 'godsend' and that the publisher is looking for more Wii titles. He also praised the fact that a Wii game can be created in less than a year rather than two or three years on other game consoles.

Because of its simpler graphics, development times for Wii games are also shorter. A Wii game can be created in as little as 12 months, said Kelly Flock, executive vice president for worldwide publishing at THQ, a video game developer based in Agoura Hills, Calif. Games for the two competing consoles typically take two to three years.

He said that the budget for a Wii game ranges from $1.5 million to $4 million, compared with the $10 million to $12 million the company spends on a PS3 or Xbox 360 game.

“The Wii is a godsend,” Mr. Flock said. “We are aggressively looking for more Wii titles.”

An editor of a games website branded Manhunt 2 as 'sick filth' and as a result this sparked a bit of anger from Rockstar and ultimately a response. In their response, Rockstar noted that they are still exploring options for Manhunt 2 and state that a ban is a triumph just for those which negatively critcise the games industry and is certainly no act of diplomacy.

We are still exploring our options for Manhunt 2, but how does banning our game support the industry or further the development of the medium? Unlike a heavy-handed editor or a critical review of a game, a ban is punishment for deviating from tradition.

A ban denies everyone the chance to consider, experience, or discuss the actual game. The only obvious victor is the status quo.

You seem to view banning Manhunt 2 as a way to protect the industry from scrutiny and unfair attacks. In fact, a ban is a triumph for the industry’s harshest critics, not an act of diplomacy.

A ban is only likely to encourage those who believe video games, already the most regulated medium in entertainment history, should be further restricted.

A number of reports are confirming that Nintendo are currently in the process of trying to recruit new suppliers for components of the Wii as they are seeking to significantly ramp up production in order to ensure enough stock for the Holiday season.

Last week a number of Nintendo officials claimed that the US, and perhaps even Japan, could be hit by a Wii drought later this year. The company promised to do everything it could so as not to disappoint consumers or kick itself in the teeth financially, and a report on manufacturing trade site emsnow suggests it is making good on its word.

The Japanese firm is said to have held talks with Taiwanese companies Sunplus Technology and Wistron, who reportedly manufacture controller chips for Wii and assemble the machine respectively, about the pair becoming new suppliers of outsourced components for the Wii. Power supply provider Lite-On is also supposedly keen to join Nintendo’s roster of suppliers.

A high profile Nintendo executive has failed to rule out 2007 as the year of the first ever release on their WiiWare service, however the safe bet seems to be on 2008 welcoming the first release by developers. The same exec also indicated that its the end of the road for the Gameboy series.

Harrison also informed us that Nintendo's WiiWare service could actually still launch this year. When the announcement was first made, Nintendo made it seem like we wouldn't see anything until early 2008, but Harrison isn't ruling out 2007 entirely.

"It may not take until 2008. I've seen a couple of ideas that have already been generated even before we went public [with WiiWare]. Whether those are going to be ready or not, I don't really know," he said.

When pressed about WiiWare possibly taking off in 2007, he further explained, "It really depends on the developers. If they have their games ready and they're of an appropriate quality, then there's nothing to stop them from launching before the end of the year. It's just the fact that we only recently gave out the development tools and the development specifications, so most people haven't even started yet."

According to internet rumors, Rockstar are having problems in fitting GTA IV onto one disc. The game is also scheduled to feature in-game internet which could play a sound part in many roles of the game.

It's also been alleged that an important feature will be an in-game internet. According to speculation, central character, Niko will be able to upload his resume to apply for a job, in order to get an interview with a man he has to kill. Furthermore, it's possible that Niko will be able to use his mobile phone when ordering and buying weapons, which could remove the need to visit the ammo shops.

Further rumors suggest that the game will feature more true to life ways of side-stepping the attentions of the law. It has been suggested that if a player is being pursued and drives to an isolated area, changes cars while no one is looking and drives off in the new ride the cops will be none the wiser.

Yet more rumors circling certain E3 parties suggested that Rockstar is having trouble squeezing the giant game onto one Xbox 360 disk.

PvP seems to have taken the Nyko air-flow controller for use with the PC and moulded it so that it acts as some kind of PSP cradle. So now your hands may never experience a clammy sensation after playing PSP to long periods of time...

back again! i took a pc controller that cools your hands and cut and molded it to be an add-on to the psp. it contours perfectly with the psp and connects to the psp thru the usb port. right now the condition of it is EXTREMELY rough and needs to be sanded down and painted but i just wanted to show u all what i made before i start on the cosmetics of it.

PRESS RELEASE: Record-selling Wii sponsors NASCAR's Greg Biffle

For the first time ever, Nintendo is sponsoring a car this NASCAR season and Greg Biffle will be the man behind the wheel of the #16 Wii-themed Ford Fusion. Take a break from racing on Wii™ and watch Biffle and the Wii team charge to the head of the race.



Look for the Wii-themed car at Watkins Glen International in New York on Sunday August 12th and then again at the Dover International Speedway in Delaware on Sunday September 23rd! The Watkins Glen race will be broadcast on ESPN at 1 p.m. EST, and the Dover International Speedway race will be broadcast by ABC at 1 p.m. EST.

Biffle has been racing in NASCAR for over a decade and has garnered so many trophies and accolades it's tough to keep track of them all. Biffle has performed exceptionally well in all three NASCAR series. His most recent win was the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Look for the Nintendo® Street Team at five upcoming NASCAR events as well as high-profile fairs, festivals, and other events nationwide! Fans can play the latest Wii and Nintendo DS™ games including Mario Strikers™ Charged and Pokémon® Diamond and Pokémon® Pearl.

Come out and visit the Nintendo Street Team at the marketing village at these NASCAR race locations:

July 13 - 15: Chicagoland Speedway

Aug. 17 - 19: Michigan International Speedway

Aug. 31 - Sept. 2: California Speedway, Fontana, CA

Sept. 21 - 23: Dover International Speedway, Delaware — be sure to check out the Wii-themed race car at Sunday's race!

Oct. 12 - 14: Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina

Well-known Wedbush Morgan analyst has indicated that Sony will reduce the price of the 80GB PS3 to just $499 as soon as all the 'older' 60GB models have been sold out at the respective price. Patcher estimates that there are over 2 million 60GB PS3s which have been produced and not sold and are making their way to the States to cope with demand for the $499 price point.

"In our view, the Sony entry level price of USD 499 is here to stay," he said in his latest report.

"We believe that there are presently 2 – 3 million 60GB PS3s produced and not yet sold, and expect the entire supply to be diverted to the US to honor the new lower price point.

"Once these units are sold through, we expect the company to lower the price of its 80GB model to USD 499 on a standalone basis."