It looks like company NESBuckle somehow thought it would be a cool idea to make an NES into a belt buckle.  Just attach it to your belt and be ready to play with it everywhere and/or be kicked by random people on the street.  If you have $300 to blow, you can order one here.  If your sane, you’ll be content with the video below.

Aint It Cool News reports that Fox just finished signing director Erwin Stoff for a live-action US movie based on the Cowboy Beebop series.  Erwin Stoff is known as being the director for “A Scanner Darkly” so there is some hope that he will make this a good movie. 

You can read the full article here.

Capcom’s blog recently posted the official box art for Mega Man 9. Even though the game isn’t going to hit retail shelves, it still nice to see Capcom put out the effort to do this.

The cover is a throwback to the original Mega Man cover that was designed by Capcom USA. According to the blog, they are going to be creating t-shirts for sale featuring the art.

Web site Shacknews recently posted a statement from Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. The statement apologizes for the lackluster Nintendo E3 showing for the hardcore gamer. Below is an excerpt from the statement…

“If there is any perception that Nintendo is ignoring the core gamers, it’s a misunderstanding and we really want to get rid of that misunderstanding by any means. We are sorry about [the E3] media briefings, specifically for those who were expecting to see Nintendo show something about ‘Super Mario’ or ‘Legend of Zelda.’ However, the fact of the matter is the so-called ‘big titles’ need a long, long development period. … We really didn’t think this year’s E3 media briefing was the time to do so.” - Satoru Iwata

I think its good that he personally addressed this issue Nintendo fans. You can view the full article here.

A new Resident Evil 5 trailer was released today. I’m entirely sure whats going on in it, but from the looks of it, it shows off the games antagonists. The second half of the trailer shows a good amount of gameplay as well and is worth checking out.

Drawn to Life (NDS) creator 5th Cell is currently developing Construction Combat: Lock’s Quest for the Nintendo DS. Said to combine the action-adventure and life simulation genres, Construction Combat focuses on a young hero who must defend his homeland against robotic invaders by building defense towers. The game utilizes the Nintendo DS touch screen and stylus to allow players to construct defenses block-by-block to defend their homeland.

In addition to build-centric combat, the game features elements of strategy and puzzle-solving. Construction Quest will offer both local wireless and internet multiplayer for players looking to battle their friends. The game will hit retail shelves this fall. Check out the recently released trailer below!

Looks like there are plans for 3 Duke Nukem DS titles starting in 2009. The episodes will be entitled Critical Mass, Chain Reaction, and Proving Grounds.  Developer, Apogee, recently posted more details about these games, hopefully some screens will be released soon.

Apogee is bringing the King of Action himself, Duke Nukem, to the handheld console market with three new missions, together called the Duke Nukem Trilogy™. Apogee Software is producing the Trilogy under an exclusive license agreement with 3D Realms and MachineWorks Northwest LLC.  The Trilogy is comprised of three episodes: Critical Mass™, Chain Reaction™, and Proving Grounds™, with an engaging storyline that spans all three games. The episodes will being released sequentially, beginning in the summer of 2009. 

Features include:

• 9 Different World Locations
• 36 Action-Packed Levels
• 3D Accelerated Graphics
• 3D Characters with Detailed Textures
• Real-Time Particle and Lighting Effects
• Multi-Mode Play with up to 5 Different Styles of Game Play Action
• Multi-Player Action
• Total Ass-Kicking Weapons

Apogee is bringing its innovation to the handheld market by producing the Trilogy for both the Nintendo DS™ and Sony PSP™ utilizing the same storyline, but taking full advantage of each platforms strengths. This means a totally different gaming experience on each system while staying true to the storyline.

At todays Microsoft E3 presser, Square-Enix announced that the blockbuster game, Final Fantasy XIII would no longer be exclusive to the Sony Playstation 3, but would also be available in the US for the Xbox 360. Below is a brand new trailer of the game, featuring a few new characters. Still no release date though.

Today Harmonix revealed a lot of new details revolving around Rock Band 2.  A full press release was issued with these details.  Below is a highlight of those detials”

• The title will release with an exclusive launch window for Xbox 360 and later this year to the Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and Nintendo Wii.
• Rock Band 2 will feature backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date.
• Owners of the original Rock Band will have the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay-the first time ever in videogame history!
• With ongoing weekly DLC releases including individual tracks, track packs and full albums, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs by year’s end!
• Local and global online modes to connect the entire Rock Band community
• World Tour mode, now online, simplifies the best of gameplay from the original Rock Band by fusing Solo Tour and Band World Tour modes and cranks it up a notch with an all new collection of opportunity gigs, challenges, cities, venues and hirable staff
• Tour Challenges that offer rockers a chance to play through mini-campaigns focused on the best songs by instrument, decade, genre, artist, album and more
• Battle of the Bands mode challenges players to go head to head against other bands in constantly refreshed contests* created by Harmonix (*internet connection required)
• Quickplay makes it easier than ever to get in and jam without hassle while allowing for new prefab characters or customized characters that can play on any instrument plus lets you make your own set lists and organize your song lists in a variety of categories (genre, era, etc.)
• Customizable Set Lists keep the music rolling and your band rocking in Quickplay mode
  Drum Trainer mode gives players the fundamentals of different beats and fills, translating gameplay into real drumming skills
• Character Creator completes your look with all new choices in clothing, accessories, tattoos, hairstyles, instruments and more to keep your unique rock avatar playing the full rock part
  Backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date
• The Rock Band 2 soundtrack will feature over 100 songs - with over 80 songs on disc plus an additional 20 bonus tracks which will be made available for free download this fall .
• Unrivaled Blend of Classic, Developing and Emerging rock acts including Pearl Jam, Metallica, Allman Brothers, Motorhead, Devo, Jane’s Addiction, Megadeth, Paramore, Modest Mouse and more.
  Rock Band 2 is the first and only video game to feature the music of AC/DC. It includes their epic rock anthem, “Let There Be Rock”
• After 14 years since Guns N’ Roses last official music release, Axl Rose selects Rock Band 2 to debut official new track, “Shackler’s Revenge” from the highly-anticipated album Chinese Democracy
• For the first time ever, music from American music icon, Bob Dylan, is featured in a video game with “Tangled Up In Blue”
• Fender Stratocaster Controller takes on a new authentic look plus adds a reinforced strum bar, quieter buttons, wireless functionality and a built in calibration tool that automatically sets your AV setup to an ideal setting for maximum rock.
• Drum set goes wireless while also featuring quieter, velocity sensitive drum pads and a metal reinforced pedal.
• Microphone showcases authentic styling and weight.
• Fender Telecaster Controller features soft buttons with lower action to help you shred faster than ever.
• Fender Bass Controller, the first bass guitar controller ever, takes the shape of the Fender P-Bass with extended length, tuning pegs and a split strum bar to replicate finger-bass style picking.
• Full-sized Squire Stratocaster Guitar Controller multiplies the authentic guitar experience by featuring a controller built into an actual Squire Stratocaster body.
• Cymbal Expansion Pack is a straightforward but amazing upgrade to the Rock Band 2 drum set featuring add-on cymbals.
• ION Drum Rocker, a real electronic drum kit that functions as a game controller, brings the Rock Band fantasy to life featuring a simple substitution that takes the drum kit from a controller to a real instrument.

Rock Band 2 On-Disc Track List:

1.  AC/DC “Let There Be Rock” 1970s
2. AFI “Girl’s Gone Grey” 2000’s
3. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” 1990’s
4. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” 1990’s
5. Allman Brothers “Ramblin’ Man” 1970’s
6. Avenged Sevenfold “Almost Easy” 2000’s
7. Bad Company “Shooting Star” 1970’s
8. Beastie Boys “So Whatcha Want” 1990’s
9. Beck “E-Pro” 2000’s
10. Bikini Kill “Rebel Girl” 1990’s
11. Billy Idol “White Wedding Pt. I” 1980’s
12. Blondie “One Way or Another” 1970’s
13. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” 1970’s
14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” 1980’s
15. Cheap Trick “Hello There” 1970’s
16. Devo “Uncontrollable Urge” 1980’s
17. Dinosaur Jr. “Feel the Pain” 1990’s
18. Disturbed “Down with the Sickness” 2000’s
19. Dream Theater “Panic Attack” 2000’s
20. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” 1980’s
21. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” 1970’s
22. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” 1970’s
23. Foo Fighters “Everlong” 1990’s
24. Guns N’ Roses “Shackler’s Revenge” 2000’s
25. Interpol “PDA” 2000’s
26. Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” 1980’s
27. Jethro Tull “Aqualung” 1970’s
28. Jimmy Eat World “The Middle” 2000’s
29. Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” 1980’s
30. Journey “Anyway You Want It” 1970’s
31. Judas Priest “Painkiller” 1990’s
32. Kansas “Carry On Wayward Son” 1970’s
33. L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” 1990’s
34. Lacuna Coil “Our Truth” 2000’s
35. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” 2000’s
36. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” 1990’s
37. Lush “De-Luxe” 1990’s
38. Mastodon “Colony of Birchmen” 2000’s
39. Megadeth “Peace Sells” 1980’s
40. Metallica “Battery” 1980’s
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones “Where’d You Go” 1990’s
42. Modest Mouse “Float On” 2000’s
43. Motorhead “Ace of Spades” 1980’s
44. Nirvana “Drain You” 1990’s
45. Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” 1960’s
46. Panic at the Disco “Nine in the Afternoon” 2000’s
47. Paramore “That’s What You Get” 2000’s
48. Pearl Jam “Alive” 1990’s
49. Presidents of the USA “Lump” 1990’s
50. Rage Against the Machine “Testify” 1990’s
51. Ratt “Round & Round” 1980’s
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away” 1990’s
53. Rise Against “Give it All” 2000’s
54. Rush “The Trees” 1970’s
55. Silversun Pickups “Lazy Eye” 2000’s
56. Smashing Pumpkins “Today” 1990’s
57. Social Distortion “I Was Wrong” 1990’s
58. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” 1980’s
59. Soundgarden “Spoonman” 1990’s
60. Squeeze “Cool for Cats” 1970’s
61. Steely Dan “Bodhitsattva” 1970’s
62. Steve Miller Band “Rock’n Me” 1970’s
63. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” 1980’s
64. System of a Down “Chop Suey” 2000’s
65. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” 1970’s
66. Tenacious D “Master Exploder” 2000’s
67. Testament “Souls of Black” 1990’s
68. The Donnas “New Kid in School” 2000’s
69. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” 1980’s
70. The Grateful Dead “Alabama Getaway” 1980’s
71. The Guess Who “American Woman” 1970’s
72. The Muffs “Kids in America” 1990’s
73. The Offspring “Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)” 1990’s
74. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” 1980’s
75. The Who “Pinball Wizard” 1960’s
76. Abnormality “Visions” 2000’s
77. Anarchy Club “Get Clean” 2000’s
78. Bang Camaro “Night Lies” 2000’s
79. Breaking Wheel “Shoulder to the Plow” 2000’s
80. The Libyans “Neighborhood” 2000’s
81. The Main Drag “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter” 2000’s
82. Speck “Conventional Lover” 2000’s
83. The Sterns “Supreme Girl” 2000’s
84. That Handsome Devil “Rob the Prez-O-Dent” 2000’s

The games initial songlist is comprised 100% of original recordings.

Play-Asia is having a Summer Sale this week only! A whopping 25% discount has been applied to Play-Asia.com’s regular selling price. This means that already discounted products have become even cheaper. Prices listed in this news post already reflect the latest sales price.

Only products listed as “shipping within 24h” availability are still discounted, so this means that gaming systems are not included. Still a good time to stock up on some import games!

http://www.play-asia.com/