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Thanks to 1UP for its news story noting that Namco's Japanese hit PlayStation 2 drumming title, Taiko No Tatsujin, is coming to the West. According to the article's translation of a Bloomberg News story: "Namco tentatively plans to localize two titles in the series (four have been released in Japan so far) with revised song selections better suited to an American audience. Its expectations of the title's success are relatively modest - Haraguchi said Namco expects to initially ship around 100,000 units - but given the success of Dance Dance Revolution in this country, it could balloon into a similar cult phenomenon." The Taiko No Tatsujin series "...has shipped two million units for PlayStation 2 in Japan so far", even with an (optional) expensive drum controller, and it seems Nintendo's previously mentioned Namco-developed conga-drum title Donkey Konga is also likely to head Stateside.

morcego writes "BioWare has done it again. Another expansion pack for Neverwinter Nights has been released. This time, it's Hordes of the Underdark, in case you haven't been following. Reviews are already available, including it being rated 4.5/5 on GamesDomain. Atari (the publisher) also have a press release about it."

Cobol Junky writes "Ultimate Baseball Online, a game claiming to be the first MMOSG (massively multiplayer online sports game) has recently transitioned into free Beta status. Each player's character takes a position on the baseball field, and can improve their skills and stats by gaining experience, just like a regular MMORPG. UBO is being created by NetAmin, the creators of an scrapped MMORPG called Fallen Age." This title has been in development for a while, and a GameSpot preview reveals more, but what other genres will get tarred by the massively multiplayer brush before long?

Thanks to GamesDomain for their review of Metal Arms: Glitch In The System, as their take on Vivendi's multi-platform "robot-themed third-person shooter", released this week, echoes the conclusions of many other positive ratings in proclaiming: "it's a real shame that this game doesn't seem to have quite the attention it deserves." 1UP also comments on the title as "one of the best under-hyped games of the year", describing it as "Ratchet & Clank fused with Halo", but why has this Swingin' Ape-developed title got such a low profile - lack of advertising, choice of subject matter, too many games released at the same time?

Thanks to GamesDomain for its review of Mario Kart: Double Dash for GameCube, as the reviewer rates Nintendo's latest kart update very highly, but comments that "...more seasoned gamers may grumble a tad at the general lack of progress", a view occasionally echoed by the overwhelmingly glowing reception from other sites, reminiscent of the (cynically?) subdued positivity regarding Soul Calibur II's release. However, IGN Cube is more critical still, suggesting the game "doesn't progress far beyond the N64 version other than in the visual department... [and] introduces new imbalances to the item system", plus "has axed a few trusted control mechanics like the hop." As for the title's reception outside the U.S., EuroGamer rectifies IGN's downer angle, and C+VG reports significant sales in Japan, with a knock-on effect for GameCube hardware, and a similar effect in the UK for a Mario Kart-including hardware bundle.

Steve Shewchuk writes "3DO, the publisher known for its Might and Magic, Army Men, and High Heat Baseball franchises, has successfully auctioned off a number of its assets after its transition into bankruptcy protection. High Heat Baseball has been purchased by Microsoft, while the Might and Magic series went to Ubisoft. Street Racing Syndicate sold to Namco Hometek, but there's no word on Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, one of the biggest 'in production' games before 3DO went bankrupt."

Thanks to GamePro for posting an article discussing the fact that Microsoft may try to keep the Xbox alive in Japan by flooding the market in less territory-suitable, but already in-development Western titles such as Conker, Voodoo Vince, and Counter-Strike. According to the article, a Japanese retail chain "..claims that Microsoft is planning to release overseas titles in Japan without bothering to localize them for the local market - in other words, they'll release the original English version with a Japanese manual attached." The article suggests this is a sign that Microsoft may forget about the mass-market in Japan, and will be "..dropping its large-scale strategy [until Xbox 2], and concentrating on the 400,000 or so hardcore fans it's managed to scrape together over the past 16 months."

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a Gamers.com article indicating that R-Type Final for Playstation 2 has allegedly been picked up by Eidos' Fresh Games label for US release. This comes hot on the heels of news that the game, the latest in the classic R-Type shoot-em-up series, will feature an AI mode, with the player "able to define the behavior of an AI-controlled R-9 fighter, and pit two of them against each other in a race to destroy enemy craft, collect items, and avoid getting killed in the process" - though the traditional single-player shmup gameplay will fortunately also be present. The import-friendly Fresh Games label has also brought quirky Japanese titles like Mad Maestro and the crazed Mr. Mosquito to the West - anyone got nominations for other import titles they should consider releasing?

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to GameSpot's report that a new version of gory driving title Carmageddon is listed for release in 2005 by publisher SCi. This highly Death Race 2000-influenced franchise often got in trouble with censors for "sequences in which pedestrians are run over by the player", and despite suffering diminishing returns for the sequels, was a fiercely addictive title (especially in the original's rarely-tried LAN multiplayer modes.) However, there's no word yet on platforms or gameplay details for this new title.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to GameSpot's report that a new version of gory driving title Carmageddon is listed for release in 2005 by publisher SCi. This highly Death Race 2000-influenced franchise often got in trouble with censors for "sequences in which pedestrians are run over by the player", and despite suffering diminishing returns for the sequels, was a fiercely addictive title (especially in the original's rarely-tried LAN multiplayer modes.) However, there's no word yet on platforms or gameplay details for this new title.

Thanks to Gamesdomain for posting an interview with the lead developer of FASA/Microsoft's Xbox title, Crimson Skies:High Road To Revenge. The game, a sequel to the noted PC flight action title, is summed up succinctly in the first interview answer: "Crimson Skies is about three things - dogfighting on Xbox Live, story and choice-driven gameplay. It is set in a unique 1930s alternate United States where aircraft have evolved as the chief mode of transportation." The title is due out in October, and this interview is accompanied by some excellent-looking screenshots.

Thanks to Gamesdomain for posting an interview with the lead developer of FASA/Microsoft's Xbox title, Crimson Skies:High Road To Revenge. The game, a sequel to the noted PC flight action title, is summed up succinctly in the first interview answer: "Crimson Skies is about three things - dogfighting on Xbox Live, story and choice-driven gameplay. It is set in a unique 1930s alternate United States where aircraft have evolved as the chief mode of transportation." The title is due out in October, and this interview is accompanied by some excellent-looking screenshots.

Thanks to Gamesdomain for posting an interview with the lead developer of FASA/Microsoft's Xbox title, Crimson Skies:High Road To Revenge. The game, a sequel to the noted PC flight action title, is summed up succinctly in the first interview answer: "Crimson Skies is about three things - dogfighting on Xbox Live, story and choice-driven gameplay. It is set in a unique 1930s alternate United States where aircraft have evolved as the chief mode of transportation." The title is due out in October, and this interview is accompanied by some excellent-looking screenshots.

LukeG writes "As games developers constantly seek new methods of tapping into the mass market, the French team at Quantic Dream have taken their inspiration from the television in developing 'Fahrenheit', what they claim will be the world's first interactive TV series, an episodic 3D-adventure set in New York. Here's a full look at this interesting development." See the company's website (Flash-only, unfortunately); or there are several other previews out there (1, 2).