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Xbox Live Top 10: People apparently played CoD4, World at War

by David Hinkle { Nov 18th 2009 at 10:30AM }

Seriously, guys? Everyone on the planet runs out and buys Modern Warfare 2 and you're still playing Call of Duty 4 and World at War? We can understand you folks who chose to play Halo 3 -- the whole Modern Warfare 2 experience may not be your idea of a good time -- but Major Nelson's Xbox Live activity chart for the week of November 9 simply vexes us.

In less puzzling news, the XBLA activity is along the lines of something we're used to seeing. Trials HD remains atop the list, followed by Castle Crashers and South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play. Konami's Zombie Apocalypse also managed to survive the gauntlet and make its way onto the list and, combined with the recent release of Left 4 Dead 2, we feel mankind is finally starting to reach acceptable levels of preparation for the inevitable future of a world plagued by the undead.

Konami's iPhone games on sale for one dollar each

by JC Fletcher { Nov 17th 2009 at 10:00AM }

Konami has marked its entire slate of iPhone/iPod Touch games down to just .99 -- the magic price point at which we're willing to try something, even if it's Silent Hill: The Escape. Now is the time to satisfy your curiosity about Metal Gear Solid Touch or Krazy Kart Racing! Well, maybe you could download the demos first to satisfy your curiosity, and then buy the games if you feel there's a chance for even one dollar worth of enjoyment.

The full selection of Konami games includes (iTunes links): Dance Dance Revolution S+, Dance Dance Revolution S, Frogger, Metal Gear Solid Touch, Silent Hill: The Escape, Krazy Kart Racing, Power Pros Touch, Silent Scope, and Field Prowlers Police Rush! This deal is active in the US and Canada. We're checking with Konami to find out how long the offer will be available.

[Thanks, Jordan!]

DSi-exclusive 'Monster Finder' is now 'Foto Showdown'

by JC Fletcher { Nov 16th 2009 at 12:15PM }

The DSi-only monster-training game, Monster Finder, just can't seem to nail that whole title thing. In Japan, it's half exciting ("Monster") and half not-so-exciting ("Finder.") As GameStop's listing for the North American release shows, the same problem is happening even in localization. "Showdown" sounds fairly action-packed, but "Foto Showdown" fails to convey the whole monster-combat thing.

Foto Showdown is suddenly not the only game in town when it comes to monster generation on the DS. This game, with its camera-based monster system, is now in a showdown of its own -- with Tecmo's just-announced Monster Rancher DS.

[Via Siliconera]

Metal Gear Rex toy will launch a nuclear assault on your heart

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 13th 2009 at 3:15PM }

Created with the capability to launch a nuclear slug, halfway across the world -- undetected -- Metal Gear Rex is anything but cute. That is, until you shrink it down to toy size, at which point it becomes positively adorable. The killer collectible was initially spotted by a Toyark forum member, who noted it was coming from threeA. The forum dweller further noted that Rex appears to be 15 to 17 inches tall.

We're not sure if the railgun is functional but, if push comes to shove, you could definitely launch some rubber bands off of that thing. Pricing and release information have not yet been revealed.

[Via TomoPop. Thanks, Gusto]

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories debuts on Wii Dec. 8

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 12th 2009 at 1:30PM }

It looks like GameStop got it right, as IGN reports that Silent Hill: Shattered Memories will arrive on the Wii on December 8. The PS2 and PSP versions have yet to be given solid release dates, with Konami promising to reveal further information at a later time. Given the Wii version's proximity to the holiday shopping season, it sounds like PSP and PS2 players can consider their sanity safe until 2010 -- though not long after, considering our experience with the PSP version at Tokyo Game Show.

Wii owners, on the other hand, should start preparing now by stocking up on flashlights, blankets and plenty of batteries. Just remember, so long as you're completely covered they can't get you. Braver readers might consider perusing some of our terrifying Shattered Memories preview coverage.

DDR purse is actually kind of neat

by Justin McElroy { Nov 9th 2009 at 10:00PM }

Printing a description on something doesn't necessarily make it so, as the hundreds of XXL T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Way 2 Sexy" all over our nation's Wal-Mart's will attest. But there's truth in advertising for this purse made out of a Dance Dance Revolution dance pad, which is, in fact, pretty cool.

As a bonus with this handy how-to, you get to see several lurid close-ups of a dance pad's guts. Sure, it's not the internet's biggest fetish group, but it's nice to see them being thrown a bone.

[Thanks, Liz]

Konami income declines as expected in first half of fiscal 2010

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 9th 2009 at 5:31PM }

Konami courteously warned its investors last week that the first half of this fiscal year had been ... unfavorable to the company. It forecasted a year-over-year decline in net income of 82%, falling from ¥12 billion ($132 million) in the first half of FY 2009 to ¥2 billion ($24 million) in the first half of FY 2010. This forecast now seems incredibly pessimistic in light of the recently released financial report, which reveals a net income decrease of 81%, down to ¥2.2 billion ($24.4 million) in the first half of FY 2010.

See, Konami? Shake off that melancholy. That's one whole percent less than you expected to lose! Hey, you know what they say: When life takes one less lemon away from you than you expect it to take, then you can make lemonade with that lemon. Sure, it'll be fairly weak lemonade with just the one lemon, but it'll still be crisp and refreshing.

Prototype Wii game found in developer portfolio

by JC Fletcher { Nov 4th 2009 at 6:40PM }

The website for Eric Testroete, who recently made the rounds for his "big head mode" Halloween costume, shows work-in-progress screens of an unannounced Wii war game he animated for MLB Superstars developer Deep Fried Entertainment. The game uses an almost top-down, zoomed-out perspective, and appears to put the player (or players) in control of jeeps equipped with machine guns.

As Kotaku notes, it looks rather like Konami's Jackal, prompting the site to speculate that it's a ReBirth made for Konami, like the recent Castlevania, Contra, and Gradius games. If true, it would be the first ReBirth title not to be developed by M2 in Japan. Of course, the American side of Konami is also working on refreshes of old Konami franchises in the form of Rocket Knight, so there is precedent.

Gallery: Undisclosed Deep Fried Entertainment game (Wii)

Two Konami 'Xbox Live' Compilations discovered on GameFly

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 4th 2009 at 3:30PM }

GameFly now has listings for Xbox Live Compilation Vol. 1 & 2 from Konami on its site. Noted by Siliconera, Konami's XBLA releases include Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Frogger 2 and a slew of classic titles. The site speculates that if Konami's subsidiary Hudson is thrown in the mix, the collection could also include Bomberman titles.

GameFly is known to "simply post information as it is supplied to [it] by the publishers." We've contacted Konami for any further details and will update if it responds to our request.

Source -- Xbox Live Compilation Vol. 1 [GameFly]
Source -- Xbox Live Compilation Vol. 2 [GameFly]

[Via Siliconera]

Konami forecasts 82 percent decline in net income

by David Hinkle { Nov 3rd 2009 at 3:21PM }

Konami has revealed its financial forecast for the six months ending September 30, 2009. Comparing profits to the same time last year, the company predicts that net income attributable to Konami corporation would fall 82 percent, from 12 billion yen ($132 million) to 2 billion yen ($24 million). Of course, Konami blames this sharp downturn on a lack of key titles (again), especially in contrast to MGS4 which buoyed much of 2008.

The company is hopeful for a climb into the black this time next year, forecasting net income to be around 16 billion yen ($177 million). Konami doesn't say what it expects to drive this rise in profits, but titles like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories and PES 2010 will likely play a part in that. Next year also promises the appearance of a revitalized Castlevania, a portable Metal Gear Solid and -- maybe -- a Rising action star.

[Via GI.biz]

Source - PDF document

MSX returns to Virtual Console in Japan with ... Metal Gear!?

by JC Fletcher { Oct 30th 2009 at 3:00PM }

There hasn't been an MSX game released on Virtual Console in Japan since July 2008. Konami has decided to start releasing its MSX library on Virtual Console, and as a result (should these games actually come out), the MSX selection will more than triple in November. Which just means it'll go from a whole two games to seven.

One of the MSX classics planned for November? The original Metal Gear! Only available in America as a bonus with Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, the debut of Hideo Kojima's verbose series will be on Japan's Virtual Console for 800 points sometime next month.

The full list of planned releases, which doesn't include whatever arcade games Bandai Namco will overcharge for, is after the break.

Continued →

Tomena Sanner running to North American WiiWare in Q1

by JC Fletcher { Oct 29th 2009 at 3:15PM }

Konami has announced a North American release for its one-button WiiWare action game Tomena Sanner. The mobile port stars a businessman named Hitoshi Susumu who must run to an "ultimate dance party" to get there on time -- and who has the terrible luck to face obstacles like chorus lines, T-Rexes, lizardmen, and Frankenstein's Monsters.

The game uses a single button to control Susumu's jumps, as well as attacks, basketball dunks, and whatever the situation calls for. It's like Canabalt, but with more dancing. All the while, a running commentary on Susumu's progress displays at the top of the screen. It also includes split screen multiplayer for up to four.

Tomena Sanner will be out, unfortunately, in Q1 2010.

Gallery: Tomena Sanner (WiiWare)

Frogger Returns, crosses street to WiiWare and PlayStation Network

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 27th 2009 at 9:28PM }

Click to see even larger rats.

Konami shocked us by announcing a complete reboot of Frogger, reimagined by American McGee as a dark, twisted platformer about a frog on a quest for revenge.

Wait, they didn't do that. Instead, they announced Frogger Returns, a by-the-numbers follow-up to the arcade classic that has you taking the titular mascot from one side of the screen to the other. This modern take on the franchise adds a few power-ups (like the ability to reverse and stop time) and invincibility. Whoa, who knew frogs could do all that?

Frogger Returns promises to be "12 times the size of the original" and will also offer "local multiplayer," according to the official press release. No details on price were revealed, but Konami's aiming for a release on both WiiWare and PlayStation Network later this fall.

Gallery: Frogger Returns

Whippin' out some Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth footage

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 27th 2009 at 2:45PM }

Upon close inspection of two new videos of the WiiWare title, Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth, we can confirm the following: It's definitely a Castlevania game. While the game is a remake of the Gameboy title of the same name -- sans the "ReBirth" bit -- the WiiWare version is more reminiscent of the 16-bit games found on the Super Nintendo and Genesis. In fact, we're fairly certain we spotted some reused art from said 16-bit games, which is pretty characteristic for a Castlevania title! Still, the classic monster-slaying, holy-water-tossing gameplay looks to be firmly intact.

Check out the footage after the break.

Continued →

Konami extremely confident in PES 2010, ships 3 million to Europe

by David Hinkle { Oct 24th 2009 at 12:00AM }

Look, we know you Europeans love your ~~soccer~~ football, but GI.biz is reporting that Konami has shipped three million copies of PES 2010 to the region today. Three million -- that's like Halo 3 numbers, people!

While we're willing to bet you Euros are chomping at the bit for more pitch play, we're curious if PES 2010 needs such a hefty initial shipment -- especially since FIFA 10 has been out and selling really well. Have footy fans had their needs fulfilled? Apparently not, since Konami expects the game to "become a million-selling title at launch."

"Global sales for the PES series to date are over 55.5 million, and we expect a very strong performance from what is easily the best PES in a long, long time," says Martin Schneider, Konami's European marketing director. He credits the rise in quality and buzz to the latest iteration to the fans, whom he expects to stick around as Konami starts charging toward DLC for the game.