uk posts(Subscribe to this feed)

The "reimagined" first installment of Silent Hill is set to shatter memories in Europe on February 5, 2010. Konami confirmed the survival-horror title will release on Wii, PS2 and PSP on the appointed date. For those who can't wait, there's always an early Homecoming in anticipation for that return to the cursed town.

Reviews of the game have been what Metacritic defines as "generally favorable," with a 76 average. Our own review took the approach that the game is good, but is it still Silent Hill with all the changes?

Source -- Modern Warfare 2 captures Christmas No1 [Chart Track]
Source -- All formats chart [Chart Track]

POP247 kiosks are popping up at 150 locations around the UK, particularly in locations of heavy human traffic. The dispensaries, which apparently exist in the US too, can hold up to 400 units of games, DVDs and Blu-ray movies. The boxes are a collaboration between Sony Pictures and Universal Studios.

The kiosks will soon provide downloadable games and movies, as well, transferable to Sony memory sticks. This is a feature that should prove convenient for travelers on the go -- especially the PSP Go.

Assassin's Creed 2 couldn't find the next grip location and holds its position in third. Nintendo has Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus and New Super Mario Bros. Wii at spots two, four and six, respectively. As for premieres, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks rolled in at 12th place and James Cameron's Avatar: The Game entered at number 29. Now let's see how Avatar: The Movie That Inspired The Game does. If it's a hit, that should help sales of the game.

Source -- Modern Warfare 2 Claims 5th Week at No1 [Chart Track]
Source -- All formats chart [Chart Track]

In a survey of 93 UK retailers who sell games -- conducted by MCV -- a surprising 91 percent said that they have a positive outlook for 2010 when it comes to, well, sales of games and game-related goods. More near-term, out those surveyed, 48 percent expect more income from games this holiday season than last, and an additional 27 percent believe they'll do at least as well as last year.

So, hey, at least someone's optimistic about the economy, even if British game developers may be in for a world of hurt. It seems fitting that it's the same folks who gave us "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."

GamesIndustry.biz reports that the DS has officially exceeded 10 million units sold in the UK. The revelation comes courtesy of data from European number crunchers GfK Chart-Track and, according to Nintendo, the handheld is currently owned by one out of every six UK residents. Of course, there's no telling how many people have purchased more than one of the console's many, many iterations. Still, the DS has managed to reach the 10 million mark faster than the PS2 did, just shy of five years since the handheld launched in March 2005.

We've been holding this back for a while now, but it's probably time to just come out and say it: It looks like the DS is a success.

The Guardian reports that the British government will likely reject the Games Tax Relief proposal. According to the paper, the video game industry "contributes more to the UK economy than the film industry," yet doesn't receive the same assistance from the government.

All of this is leading up to Tiga, the UK's trade association for the video game industry, either owning the role of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" or Cassandra of Greek mythology. The organization claims that 1,700 jobs will be lost without tax breaks and that competition from other countries, like the US, France, and especially Canada, is too strong. Dundee and Manchester are to receive a £10 million cash injection from the government, but that probably pales in comparison to government tax relief. It appears that Tiga is going to have to take a gamble on the Shadow Lords soon.

[Via Edge]

Last month, we wrote about Facebook-based advocacy group Gamers' Voice, British Labor MP Tom Watson's initiative to combat the wave of negative press garnered by violent video games and gaming culture as a whole. At the time that story was published, the group had a few hundred members. Just two weeks after the story was published, the group had over 15,000 members.

According to a recent interview with IndustryGamers, Watson is inviting the group's ranks to join him at the British House of Commons tomorrow to discuss the future of the group. However, he's already seen results in Parliament, where his fellow politicians have shown interest in learning about the issues that pertain to games and have asked about connecting with gamers. Watson's personal goals are fairly reasonable: To stop the media's attacks on the entire industry "because one scene in one game is unpleasant to one journalist," and to "get a balanced view about what games really are."

UK video game industry trade association TIGA delivered a petition today to 10 Downing Street (that's where Her Majesty ... oh, it's just the British Prime Minister's residence), seeking the introduction of Games Tax Relief. The petition was signed by 55 "senior industry figures," which gives the proposition a bit more weight than the standard internet plea. The argument set forth by Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, is that "if it is right to provide tax relief for the UK film industry then it is also right to provide tax relief for the UK video games sector."

TIGA's push on the UK government is being framed as a matter of survival for the British games industry. The organization previously stated that 1,700 jobs will be lost without tax breaks and that the current government funding structure for the games industry is "incoherent." If TIGA doesn't receive assistance soon, the group can always accept the outstretched hand of assistance from the ominous-sounding "Shadow Cabinet."

There's "No Russian" Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 off the top spot on the UK sales charts. Infinity Ward's mega-hit is killin' terrorists, civilians and retail at a solid tick, despite the seven percent sales drop from the prior week. The FPS has held the high ground for four weeks now, repelling solid competition from the footie fantasies of FIFA 10 and the hidden blades of Assassin's Creed 2.

Call of Duty: World at War maintained the number one position on the charts last year for five weeks, before FIFA 09 rushed the goal and scored the top spot during Christmas week. Thanks to retail promotions, game of the year candidate Batman: Arkham Asylum sales surged 122 percent, bringing the Dark Knight back onto the chart in the twenty spot.

Source -- Call of Duty still in command at No1 [Chart Track]
Source -- All formats chart [Chart Track]

A Konami press release, laden with the heft of a UK release date for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, landed in our laps this morning. We don't think it had enough force to do any serious damage to -- what? Oh, right. Potential FOXHOUNDs living in the United Kingdom can get their hands on the co-op portable stealth title on May 28, 2010; or, as they'd likely call it, 28 May, 2010.

For those of you keeping score, now the UK and Japan both have release dates for the game. Who does a guy have to hide behind in a box and then put in an unrelenting sleeper hold to get a North American launch date around here?

Gfk-ChartTrack data indicates that the Wii has passed the six million mark in the UK, one week shy of three years after it launched. Detailing the system's rise to MCV, ChartTrack director Dorian Bloch said, "In calendar year 2007, it sold 1.81 million – but really took off in 2008, with 2.73 million sold. So far in 2009, it's hit 1.31 million – but it's got a few weeks to build on that before Christmas." We know to what we should ascribe the console's success. You guessed it: Escape from Bug Island.

This feat makes Wii the fastest-selling console in the history of the UK. MCV notes that it's still not the best-selling console, an honor reserved for the over 10-million-strong PS2.

You know, the United Kingdom isn't a great place to go if you enjoy drinking. The folks there, they just aren't big drinkers. It's difficult for them to find reasons to partake in the time-traveling powers of alcohol. Enter: Allotment, a new bar in the Glasgow area that offers thirsty patrons live performance art, music and a bit of the in-between.

Right about now, you're probably wondering what this has to do with games. Well, this Saturday, the bar will be transformed into a living dedication to retro gaming, with a central theme of "gaming and morality." There'll be roulette and karaoke, some arcade gaming. But, more importantly, coordinators will envision a real-life Pong tribute in the space, allowing attendees to participate at any time in the recreation by simply walking up and changing it.

If you're looking for more information on Allotment, or tickets to attend, then head on over to the National Theatre of Scotland. If after reading this, you're in the mood to watch that awesome video of Japanese Matrix ping-pong, well ... you aren't the only one.

[Via GamePolitics]

The Final Fantasy series has been known to have some truly epic box art in the past, such as the man vs. machinery motif of the Final Fantasy VII cover, or the lovely, all-inclusive tableau featured on the front of the last entry in the core franchise. Imagine our surprise when we received the images above from Games Press -- it seems the cover for the UK version of Final Fantasy XIII will be considerably more simple than the box art of its predecessors. [Update: The US version of the box art will be identical to the UK version.]

We've posted larger versions of the two boxes in the gallery below. Check them out, but don't let those eyes of yours wander. Yes, we know her skirt is hiked to a precarious degree. We also know that the baby Jesus is watching your every action.

The 2008 reboot of the Prince of Persia franchise (which, apparently, is getting shut down) featured some of the most enjoyable snark and pith we've ever heard in a video game. Fortunately, Andy Walsh, the man responsible for the Prince and Elika's sharp-tongued exchanges, was recently recognized for his witty dialogue when he won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Games Award last night in London.

Normally, this is where we'd drop in a quote from Walsh about how excited he was to receive the award, but it doesn't seem that anyone initiated the optional dialogue with him following the Writers' Guild awards ceremony. Too bad, something tells us we've missed out on the best part.