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Gamasutra reports that Electronic Arts has filed for trademarks on several popular old franchises: Populous, Wing Commander, Theme Park, and Road Rash. This, along with comments from Harvey Elliot of EA's Bright Light Studio, have led many to suspect that we may see new titles for those IPs in the near future. Elliot said, "If you remember all the old classics you played, if you go back and play them now, they're not the same. They were right for their time, and the trick with those games is coming up with what's right for the time now. I'm going to look at them at some point; I think there's an opportunity to bring those back in the future, but only if it's right for the time and not just a 'remake' or something. We'd need to do it in a way that's true to the original values, but would still make a great game today."

Kikizo has an editorial piece evaluating the Xbox 360's upcoming motion-control scheme, Project Natal, and discussing why it's a bigger step forward for interactive gaming than many people think. Quoting: "[Natal] accurately perceives players in 3D space, simultaneously tracking over 48 joints on your body, enabling it to accurately redraw your skeleton in real time as you move about. On a separate 'debug screen' in the closed-doors session, we could witness for ourselves the 'mind's eye' of Natal, visually showing how it completely understands where we are, how we're moving, where we are in 3D space, how far in front of my face my hand is, whatever. It can supposedly even track individual hand and finger movement when it switches into this more finely-tuned mode. ... There is a surprising feeling of tactility and iPhone-like fluidity and precision to the way Natal works." Another interesting bit of news about Natal is that Wii-hacker Johnny Chung Lee is part of the development team. We've discussed some of his creations in the past.

The site Kikizo has up a lengthy interview with Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve and one of the minds behind the Half-Life 2 games. Though their discussion centers around the Orange Box (slated for release soon) and the titles contained therein, the discussion kicks off with Newell's scathing dress-down of Apple's understanding of the importance of gaming: "We tried to have a conversation with Apple for several years, and they never seemed to... well, we have this pattern with Apple, where we meet with them, people there go 'wow, gaming is incredibly important, we should do something with gaming'. And then we'll say, 'OK, here are three things you could do to make that better', and then they say OK, and then we never see them again. And then a year later, a new group of people show up, who apparently have no idea that the last group of people were there, and never follow though on anything. So, they seem to think that they want to do gaming, but there's never any follow through on any of the things they say they're going to do. That makes it hard to be excited about doing games for their platforms."

There have been several updates to game releases and showings this week. Probably most interesting is the news that the much-anticipated Bioshock will release in August, as opposed to the 'June-ish' timeframe we had previously. GTA and Civilization fans have much to look forward to next year; GTA IV's downloadable content, as well as new Civilization content are both due out in 2008. GTA IV itself is due out later this year. If anyone but me was wondering when the MMOG 'Bigworld: Citizen Zero' would be coming out, you can stop wondering: it's been canceled. The sci-fi title was to feature a world where players re-discovered their past on a penal colony where everyone's memory had been erased. Developer Micro Forte has been working on the game for some seven years now, and they've now publicly announced it just won't happen. Instead, they're now working on a spy-themed title. Finally, RPG fans will be getting their fix next week. Tabula Rasa and Mass Effect will be on display at GDC. More details will finally be available for both of these intriguing but mostly-enigmatic titles.

The anticipation surrounding Final Fantasy XII has resulted in Square/Enix's largest U.S. rollout for a title. Gamespot reports that 1.5 Million units were shipped to the country to meet demand. From the article: "Even if every last one of those copies has been sold, Square Enix still has a ways to go before the game duplicates the success it experienced overseas earlier this year. Final Fantasy XII has already racked up more than 2.4 million sales in Japan since its release there in March of this year." The game is pushing graphical as well as business envelopes; Kikizo has a feature talking with some of the game developers about the game's use of PS2 architecture. Essentially, the team says, FFXII is the best a game will ever look on the PlayStation 2.

Via 1up, an interview with Chris Lewis, head of Xbox Development in Europe. Along with some interesting discussion of X06 and aiming games at European markets, Lewis confirms what most people could reasonably expect: Microsoft is already hard at work on the next Xbox system. From the 1up article: "'You can't sit back on your laurels in this business - the consumer won't let you, the developers certainly won't let us. So that's happening right now,' ... In order to remain competitive, hardware manufacturers have to start thinking about the next cycle the moment work finishes on the current one. Ideas for the following generation were likely generated during the development of Xbox 360, and you can surely bet the same situations cropped up in the R&D rooms of Sony and Nintendo while working on PlayStation 3 and Wii."

Via a Joystiq post, a story on the site Kikizo which claims to have hands-on experience with the PS3. From the article: "Firstly however, the box. The stylish PlayStation 3 casing design that SCEI boss Ken Kutaragi revealed last year is, and always has been, empty - and no signs of a final, tangible casing solution appear to be in sight. 'I think to fit everything that Sony wants in there AND leave space for a 2.5 inch hard drive,' explains one senior developer working on a final kit, who will be our guide for much of this report, 'the machine would have to grow. The models they're showing off are way too small for what they want.'" Please view this with the appropriate amount of skepticism.

Ico was one of the original innovative games for the Playstation 2, and the sequel is finally nearing its release date. Games.Kikizo.com (via Blues) has an interview, screenshots, and details on the upcoming title. From the article: "There's a young man on a horse, with a girl. You can see that she's unconscious, and this is because she has lost her soul. He takes her to a temple-like area that exists at World's End. He is trying to revive her and recover her soul. In order to do that, he has to defeat the Colossi."

Rainier Wolfecastle writes "A couple weeks ago, we had the opportunity to visit Peter Molyneux and Simon and Dene Carter in Guildford, UK, for some hands-on time with Fable, their highly anticipated, finally ready for release Xbox action-RPG." Kikizo admits "Fable has been a long time coming, and for better or worse the media has elevated expectations considerably", but likes what it sees, calling the September 14th-due title "huge, gorgeous and a joy to play." Eurogamer also weighs in with impressions, expressing some reservations despite "feeling relatively upbeat" about the title, explaining: "As much as we enjoyed our time with it, it's the sort of game - typical of Peter Molyneux really - that we can't really assess piecemeal."

Rainier Wolfecastle writes "A couple weeks ago, we had the opportunity to visit Peter Molyneux and Simon and Dene Carter in Guildford, UK, for some hands-on time with Fable, their highly anticipated, finally ready for release Xbox action-RPG." Kikizo admits "Fable has been a long time coming, and for better or worse the media has elevated expectations considerably", but likes what it sees, calling the September 14th-due title "huge, gorgeous and a joy to play." Eurogamer also weighs in with impressions, expressing some reservations despite "feeling relatively upbeat" about the title, explaining: "As much as we enjoyed our time with it, it's the sort of game - typical of Peter Molyneux really - that we can't really assess piecemeal."

Thanks to GameSpy for its article analyzing Banc Of America's in-depth report on videogame prospects for Christmas 2004. The report, previously referenced on Slashdot earlier this month, is now available for download [PDF link], and GameSpy explains the report "[isn't] trying to predict what the best games of the holiday are going to be. They're predicting what the best selling games are going to be, and which ones will meet expectations set by company leaders." The Banc analysts predict that Halo 2 "will be the second-best seller of the holiday season, just behind GTA: San Andreas", and suggest that certain titles, specifically "Bloodrayne 2, Terminator 3: The Redemption, The Red Star, 100 Bullets, Crash n' Burn, Predator: Concrete Jungle, and Shadow Hearts 2", should be moved beyond the holiday season entirely, to "avoid big-name products coming out on the same time-frame."

Thanks to Kikizo for its newly posted mammoth collection of freely downloadable E3 Expo-related game videos, recapping (if a little late) games and press events from "this year's massive Los Angeles event." Especially notable is Xbox press conference spoof 'The Novice' (58mb WMV) [there's a much better-quality 8MB WMV version at TeamXbox], which 1UP.com described at the time as "a send-up of reality show The Apprentice... portraying [J.] Allard, fellow vice president Peter Moore, and chief Xbox officer Robbie Bach trying to curry favor [regarding online gaming] with the real-life Donald Trump." Somewhat lost in the E3 rush, the spoof is worth re-visiting, not least for the ending, where the losing Sony team (with "actors portraying Sony vice-president Ken Kutaragi, SCEA head Kaz Hirai and SCEA vice president Andrew House") collectively get fired, at which point "none other than Bill Gates himself ducks under them and steals the cab before they can get in."

Thanks to Kikizo for its newly posted mammoth collection of freely downloadable E3 Expo-related game videos, recapping (if a little late) games and press events from "this year's massive Los Angeles event." Especially notable is Xbox press conference spoof 'The Novice' (58mb WMV) [there's a much better-quality 8MB WMV version at TeamXbox], which 1UP.com described at the time as "a send-up of reality show The Apprentice... portraying [J.] Allard, fellow vice president Peter Moore, and chief Xbox officer Robbie Bach trying to curry favor [regarding online gaming] with the real-life Donald Trump." Somewhat lost in the E3 rush, the spoof is worth re-visiting, not least for the ending, where the losing Sony team (with "actors portraying Sony vice-president Ken Kutaragi, SCEA head Kaz Hirai and SCEA vice president Andrew House") collectively get fired, at which point "none other than Bill Gates himself ducks under them and steals the cab before they can get in."

Thanks to Kikizo for its interview with Tecmo's Tomonobu Itagaki regarding "Ninja Gaiden 2, Code Chronus, Dead or Alive Ultimate, DOA4 and PSP, [and] Nintendo DS development", conducted at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles. Itagaki addresses the complaints of some about Ninja Gaiden's extreme difficulty, posturing: "It was done intentionally of course. The testers who tested this game went nuts. At first it was easier, but when the testers said 'this is too difficult', I made it even more difficult", before mentioning that a Ninja Gaiden 2 is planned, and "the concept will not change", but "it will be after [development of] Dead or Alive 4", which in turn will be produced after the nearly completed Dead Or Alive Ultimate, the Xbox Live online-enabled title which "takes the first two Dead or Alive titles, adds all new environments, a novel online setup, a higher degree of interactivity in its levels, new movies, new costumes, and more."

arcade_memories writes "GamesIndustry.biz reports that British tech company Imagination is building a new cutting edge arcade system for Sega, which will launch early next year. It's going to be based on the next generation of the PowerVR hardware, apparently - earlier versions (as well as being marginally popular PC graphics boards) powered the Dreamcast and the Naomi arcade board. This is interesting because Naomi was the last time Sega actually built its own arcade hardware, so this is a sure sign that they're bumping up the importance of the arcade market - just like new chairman Hajime Satomi (president of arcade and gambling machine company Sammy) wants, right?" Elsewhere, there are also new reports on Sega/AM2's new Chihiro-based CCG arcade game Quest Of D, featuring an interesting "touch-screen interface" concept, albeit on existing Xbox-based hardware.

Thanks to Kikizo for its transcript of an interview with Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata, also available in video form on the site. When asked, Iwata "apologise[s] to the fans of Nintendo products in Europe" over repeated delays, presumably including games such as Animal Crossing, finally out this September in Europe, mentioning "we are now putting our energies so that the European version of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes will be launched in Europe by the end of this year, at the sacrifice of the Japanese launch by the end of this year." He also discusses the origin of the Nintendo DS, "Talking specifically about the DS, [legendary 76-year old Nintendo president Hiroshi] Yamauchi specifically hit upon the idea, and proposed, 'Why not have the two screens?'"

Thanks to Kikizo for its transcript of an interview with Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata, also available in video form on the site. When asked, Iwata "apologise[s] to the fans of Nintendo products in Europe" over repeated delays, presumably including games such as Animal Crossing, finally out this September in Europe, mentioning "we are now putting our energies so that the European version of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes will be launched in Europe by the end of this year, at the sacrifice of the Japanese launch by the end of this year." He also discusses the origin of the Nintendo DS, "Talking specifically about the DS, [legendary 76-year old Nintendo president Hiroshi] Yamauchi specifically hit upon the idea, and proposed, 'Why not have the two screens?'"

Thanks to GamesRadar for its report from the recent London-based ATEI arcade game show. The article, following quickly on the heels of a recent Slashdot Games post about new arcade games, points out: "When you can play an online version of Project Gotham Racing 2 from the comfort of your very own living room, the concept of heading to a grungy arcade emporium to play the latest coin-ops seems, to say the least, quaint", but still finds arcade-only highlights, including Out Run 2 ("...retains its predecessor's sheer speed-fuelled thrills while adding a decidedly 21st century feel") Ollie King ("a rarity among skateboard games in that it's a checkpoint-based racer"), and even the bizarre Flamin' Finger ("...an odd little LED maze game in which you have to trace a route out with the tip of your finger within the harshest of time limits.")

Thanks to loonyboi for pointing to a HeraldTribune.com article revealing new controversy and a surprising senior appointment for Phantom 'PC game console' makers Infinium. The article reveals: "Infinium Labs Inc. dished out a stealthy stock dividend to insiders as soon as it became a publicly traded company, and without bothering to tell the stock-trading public through traditional channels." Infinium executives "declined... to be interviewed about the four-for-one dividend", but it's also noted, by way of an SEC filing, that "...Infinium has hired Kevin Bachus, who helped Microsoft develop its XBox gaming system... Bachus, with nearly 20 years of experience in the game development industry, has assumed the role of president and chief operating officer."

Thanks to Kikizo for their in-depth look at Sega's OutRun 2 arcade machine, as the all-time classic racing game gets a now-playable Xbox hardware-based arcade sequel. Thanks to Yu Suzuki's obsession with a particular car manufacturer, you get to drive "one of at least eight different Ferraris, ranging from the Dino 246 GTS to the F50, including the 360 Spider and the awesome Enzo", and the game even shows track-side advertising from Ferrari sponsors like AMD, particularly piquant since the game is running on the Chihiro/Xbox's Intel chipset. However, Polygon reports that an Xbox conversion of the game is still in doubt, with an AM2 producer citing "disadvantages in terms of translation potential" and mentioning "problems with players renting most racing games as opposed to purchasing them."

Thanks to Kikizo for their in-depth look at Sega's OutRun 2 arcade machine, as the all-time classic racing game gets a now-playable Xbox hardware-based arcade sequel. Thanks to Yu Suzuki's obsession with a particular car manufacturer, you get to drive "one of at least eight different Ferraris, ranging from the Dino 246 GTS to the F50, including the 360 Spider and the awesome Enzo", and the game even shows track-side advertising from Ferrari sponsors like AMD, particularly piquant since the game is running on the Chihiro/Xbox's Intel chipset. However, Polygon reports that an Xbox conversion of the game is still in doubt, with an AM2 producer citing "disadvantages in terms of translation potential" and mentioning "problems with players renting most racing games as opposed to purchasing them."

Thanks to Kikizo for their article discussing Phantasy Star Online Episode 3: C.A.R.D Revolution's showing at the Tokyo Game Show, where it was "one of the most popular playable games." PSOWorld has a detailed FAQ page on this forthcoming GameCube RPG, which offers "strategic combat using a turn-based card system." They also carry news of a special PSO Online Trilogy box set in Japan, and confirm that on PSO Ep.3's November Japanese release, the monthly subscription fees for the other Phantasy Star Online titles "...will carry over and work for PSO Ep.3, meaning no additional fee for Ep.3." The same may be true for the US release in Q1 2004, although Western response seems muted thus far - is this where you want to see the Phantasy Star series going?

Thanks to Kikizo for running a series of articles on Sega, including an unconfirmed list of the AM2 studio's output for 2003, and new information about the state of Sega Rally 3. The AM2 list includes both Virtua Fighter Quest (working title) for Gamecube and Outrun 2 for arcade, both due later in 2003. Interestingly, the Outrun sequel is marked as running on the Xbox-based Chihiro arcade board, which powered the arcade version of Crazy Taxi 3, meaning an Xbox conversion would be very straightforward if this is true. Finally, as well as a separate story touching on the possible existence of Fighting Vipers 3, Kikizo claim Sega Rally 3 has been "..completely finished since January this year", but remains unreleased in arcades (and unannounced for PS2) because of "licensing issues", presumably with cars.

Thanks to Kikizo for running a series of articles on Sega, including an unconfirmed list of the AM2 studio's output for 2003, and new information about the state of Sega Rally 3. The AM2 list includes both Virtua Fighter Quest (working title) for Gamecube and Outrun 2 for arcade, both due later in 2003. Interestingly, the Outrun sequel is marked as running on the Xbox-based Chihiro arcade board, which powered the arcade version of Crazy Taxi 3, meaning an Xbox conversion would be very straightforward if this is true. Finally, as well as a separate story touching on the possible existence of Fighting Vipers 3, Kikizo claim Sega Rally 3 has been "..completely finished since January this year", but remains unreleased in arcades (and unannounced for PS2) because of "licensing issues", presumably with cars.

Thanks to Kikizo for running a series of articles on Sega, including an unconfirmed list of the AM2 studio's output for 2003, and new information about the state of Sega Rally 3. The AM2 list includes both Virtua Fighter Quest (working title) for Gamecube and Outrun 2 for arcade, both due later in 2003. Interestingly, the Outrun sequel is marked as running on the Xbox-based Chihiro arcade board, which powered the arcade version of Crazy Taxi 3, meaning an Xbox conversion would be very straightforward if this is true. Finally, as well as a separate story touching on the possible existence of Fighting Vipers 3, Kikizo claim Sega Rally 3 has been "..completely finished since January this year", but remains unreleased in arcades (and unannounced for PS2) because of "licensing issues", presumably with cars.