Earlier This Year, two of Britain's largest specialist games retailers, GAME and Gamestation, merged. It was a big deal. So big, in fact, it attracted the attention of the British Office of Fair Trading, who referred the takeover to the Competitions Commission. They were expected to have made a decision on the legality (under rules governing industry monopolies) of the move by January, but have already weighed it all up and come to a "provisional clearance", which all but ensures the move will go ahead.

[Reuters]

Dead or Alive isn't only about fighting. Oh, no. It's about other things as well. Things like boobs and boob physics. There's no dead to beat around the bush, we know this, you know this and more importantly Banpresto knows this. An upcoming prize in Banpresto arcade redemption games, Dead or Alive Extreme 2 jubblie mugs will be available in Japanese arcades. Kasumi, Ayane and Hitomi are representative. Hit the jump for an embarrassing hands on impression of the Hitomi mug cup.

Sony have released a new batch of screenshots for Killzone 2. And most of them look great! Lots of nice lighting, lots of explosions, lots of bad guys, lots of dead bad guys, everything you expect. Some of them, though, like the one above, look a little smooth. A little too smooth. Hrmm. But hey, it's a Killzone game, they wouldn't lie to us! Let's give them the benefit of the doubt.

No, no you won't.

Vii Specs Revealed [Codename Revolution]

Don Mattrick? Who the fuck is Don Mattrick? Oh, yeah, he's Peter Moore's replacement. Haven't heard squat from him since he took over nearly six months ago. Turns out that, contrary to our long-held belief, guy's actually got something to say, and what better way to kick things off than to get into a little holiday chest-beating?

On a price-per-value basis, I think we win...relative to Sony and Nintendo. Of course, I'm biased, given the role that I'm in, but if I really think about it using my consumer instincts and the experience that I've had, this is the best blend of performance, price, online and games - by far.

Xbox boss confident of holiday win [MSNBC]

Not sure why we've never thought about erotic games from Thailand, but we just haven't. We've been busy. StudioGU's Angel's Tale should serve as proof that there is a thriving Thai ero game industry complete with freakazoid eyes. Hit the jump for the game's trailer. Be warned: It's cheesy.

What happens when our dear friends at King of Games release a new shirt? And not just a new shirt, but one from Sega's "Get Ready" series? We get excited. Hearts flutter, hands reach subconsciously towards wallets. In this case Sega's NiGHTS is the muse, and the design is crisp, clean and striking (especially in black). Those familiar with the KoG ordering process, proceed to the starter's blocks. Those not, bring money and a comfortable pair of online-shopping athletic shoes.

[King of Games]

The King of Kong was so good that it deserves a Hollywood remake. Or something. So, if we were casting the role of school teacher challenger Steve Wiebe who tries making a go at arcade hero Billy Mitchell's Donkey Kong record, we'd say Greg Kinnear would make a fine choice. But what does Greg Kinnear think?

I saw that documentary. I loved it. I thought it was a very cool documentary. If they make that into a movie...I wouldn't want to play Kong. So that guy [Wiebe] would be better.

Kinnear in Kong [Multiplayer]

Sony have today announced the imminent release of their PlayStation Network Cards (these are new, not the already-released "tickets"), which will be let loose on Japan on December 13. Arriving in two flavours, one for ¥3000 and one for ¥5000, they'll carry a 12-digit number on the back which users will input into their PSN wallets. Just like the 360's and Wii's cards, then, if that makes things easier. All that's left is to start sacrificing farm animals in the hope these can be imported to work on dummy, foreign Japanese PSN accounts.

[Game Watch]

Square Enix sits down with CNET Japan for a chat about the current state of the console — and Square Enix. Before, we get his take on the opinion that Square Enix only makes Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games, let's here what he has to say about the three home consoles:

The Wii is the antithesis of the Xbox 360. It's strictly for hardcore gamers. The attachment rate for the Xbox 360 is much higher than for the Wii. People who buy the 360 really like games... I think the current trend is that most people aren't buying the Wii as a game machine, but as a toy... It seems that Sony isn't sure what it wants to do. Is it making high-end electronics or a game console for gamers? I want them to clearly define their console.

Still having trouble making sense of this whole Eidos-CNET-Gamespot clusterfuck? Newsweek's N'Gai Croal does a nice job of summing up what it all means. N'Gai writes:

The reality is this: publishers generally hold the enthusiast press in utter contempt, and they have for a long time. This disdain began as scorn for the enthusiast media's roots in videogame fandom, rather than traditional journalism from "respectable" publications, but it has since metastasized into a veiled but nonetheless seething anger over the advent of the Internet and with it the rise of fan sites, forums and blogs over which publishers can exert little pressure, let alone control. The contempt emanating from the publishing community, by the way, is not limited to the enthusiast press. In our view, it extends to publicists, whom certain executives believe can and should be able to dictate the nature of their coverage and secure review scores of a certain magnitude. It even extends to their own developers, for whom Metacritic and Game Rankings scores can dangle as precipitously as the sword of Damocles, as if these executives were incapable of determining for themselves the quality of their games and taking action accordingly.

What, you thought that Microsoft would suddenly let up on their well-established region-hating principles? Whatever. Just like demos and everything else on Xbox Live, the new Xbox Originals are hitting the internets region-locked, so if for some reason you're just dying to put down Mass Effect and play some Magatama you'll find you're fresh out of lucky juice.

Xbox Classics region locked downloads? [Siliconera]

Picking up where we left off, here are the 3D models of Street Fighter characters Chun-Li and Ken for Korea MMO fighter Perfect KO. Decent enough 3D models, we guess, but still prefer their 2D counterparts. The game's developers got the character licenses from Capcom and are open to including fighters from other games. Hit the jump for another image of Ken and his 3D mullet.

You excited about Deus Ex 3? I am. Makes it easier to forget the "sequel"! But while it's exciting to know the game's confirmed and is being worked on as you breathe, it's less exciting to onsider how long you'll be waiting to get your hands on the game. Speaking with 1UP, Eidos Montreal general manager Stephane D'Astous has said it'll take at least 24 months to get the thing finished. Which means you won't see it until at least late 2009. Do try and keep busy between now and then, because a watched pot never boils.

What's the Deal with Deus Ex 3? [1UP] [Image]

Nothing says Bionic Commando like a Volvo C30, am I right? Therefore, Swedish developer GRIN, responsible for development duties on the Capcom follow up, and, I assume, someone in marketing have decided to bedazzle a C30 with loads of Bionic Commando stickers. The final product? A Volvo with Bionic Commando stickers. These kinds of marketing tactics don't just fall out of the sky, people. It's hard, hard work.

Bionic Commando-Volvon [GameReactor - thanks, Rugg!]

IGN's Australian team got the chance to sit down with a very early build of the 360/PS3 version of Ghostbusters. After a quick playthrough, there's news, both good and...less good. The good stuff is as follows: 1080p is confirmed for both versions, Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis are keen to do "lots of games and lots of franchises" and that the in-game engine allows for bad guys like a giant ghost made entirely out of a swirling stack of individual books. Formidable! But the bad news?

Campaign co-op sounds like it's on shaky ground:

...we so much want the experience to be you joining the Ghostbusters for the first time, and all the other characters are so indelibly that character, so I guess we would have to have two new guys as the Ghostbusters recruits... that takes back down what our core resolution is... you get to be a Ghostbusters but at the same time you get to experience and see the Ghostbusters interacting the way they are.

Ghostbusters: AU Hands-On and Studio Tour [IGN]

There are problems with the PS3 version of Assassin's Creed. Altair freezing in mid-air, for example. Hardly helpful. PS3 owners are expecting a speedy resolution to this because, understandably, they're jack of their versions of games being all busted up. Is said help on its way? Not anytime soon. Michael Beadle, Ubisoft's senior public-relations manager says Ubisoft are looking into it but, to be frank, have no idea what's causing it. Not a clue. It's gallic shrugs all round at Ubisoft HQ!

Assassin's Creed Bug Freezes You in Mid-Air [Popular Mechanics, via Game|Life]

Back when I visited the Game Center CX shoot, one of the show's staffers told me about meeting Mega-Man creator Keiji Inafune. Namely that when they met Inafune, they asked him to scribble a picture of Mega-Man. The staffer thought it was pretty funny that Inafune's drawing didn't look that much like Mega-Man. Maybe Inafune was having a day off! Who knows? Above is a recent Mega-Man drawing by Inafune. It's all Christmasy! And hey, it does look like Mega-Man. You can win this, too, so there ya go!

Win this Inafune drawing [Capcom]

You might remember, little over a year ago Microsoft said they'd be trying something new on Xbox Live. Something aimed at enticing bullying those pesky Silver subscribers into upgrading to a paid, Gold account. Thankfully the whole thing seemed to go away, everyone got free stuff at the same time, everyone forgot about it. Til now. Microsoft PR mouthpiece Larry Hryb has sent notice that a new feature's been implemented into the dash that will endlessly remind Silver subscribers that until they want to start paying Microsoft money for the privilege of being marketed to, they'll be locked out of content for a week. Same argument as last time, we know, but implementing it into the dash like that makes us think they really mean it this time.

FYI: Free Xbox Live Marketplace content and Silver accounts [Microsoft]

For those who missed it earlier, the PlayStation 2 port of PSP car combat hit Twisted Metal: Head On has been revealed and it looks... yep, it's Twisted Metal alright. Yes, yes, it's for the fans, but I think I'm ready for that PlayStation 3 sequel now. Next-gen online multiplayer, please!

Pros and Cons of Powerlevelling, Part 1
Pros and Cons of WoW Powerlevelling, Part 3

Here's the second part to the World of Warcraft powerlevelling story that was posted last week. I know quite a few people have been desperate to read the next part, so here it is. Like last time, this story has been edited to add clarity and spice.

I should also note that this was originally to be the last of it. Unfortunately, it was still way too large to post, so the third (and last part, I swear) will be put up next week.

Now some disclaimer-related action.

Disclaimer: Kotaku AU does not advocate the use of powerlevelling services, or the use of any service that violates the Terms of Use or End User License Agreements (EULA) of any game. If you decide to indulge in any such service, you do so at your own risk.

To: Ash
From: Crecente
Re: Sing It Loud (And Off-Key)

I leave tomorrow afternoon (that's Thursday Australia time) for the states and a very cold home. Funny enough, after about 24 hours of travel I will arrive at our Denver home tomorrow afternoon. The more I do this trip the more I dislike it. What I've found is that I'm absolutely fine with being on one plane for up to as much as 10 hours, but anything over than, and certainly 14 hours, and I start to get a little stir crazy. It's been a fun trip, full of adventure, relaxation, reading and not a little work.

As much as I love Australia, I can't wait to be back home, cocooned in the house by a fire in the dead of a Denver Winter. I won't have much time to relax though, the Denver Funde Razer kicks off on Dec. 12, AKA next Wednesday. I hope some of our readers will be coming to check it out.

What you Missed:
Dell Unveils WoW-Themed XPS Laptops
IGF Finalists Named
Xbox 360 DivX/XviD Tested, Approved
GameSpot May See "Mass Resignations" Over Dismissal
CNET Employee Responds To Gamespot Controversy, CNET Starting Investigation

The company responsible for billions of tons of Chocobo tchochkes is giving Square Enix Members another opportunity to be inundated with more Final Fantasy stuff. Squeenix's Virtual World launches in Japan next week, with the publisher revealing details on the members only service today. Replete with avatar creation, customisation, mini-games and Chocobos, Virtual World behaves kind of like a low-rent Second Life or Home. Instead of creepy furry sexual fantasies played out with terrible graphics, Virtual World inhabitants will have tea with giant yellow birds. Instead of looking at billboards for Sony games, Virtual World users will look at billboards for Square Enix games.

It's strictly for Windows users at this point and will likely remain that way for a long time. Virtual World will go into a public alpha testing next week, incorporate existing Square Enix Member avatars and feature prominent ads for Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon for the Wii.

Virtual World [Square Enix via NeoGAF]

The National Institute on Media and the Family officially released their Video Game Report Card today, the one we leaked yesterday. No surprises there, but today Patricia Vance, head of the Entertainment Software Rating Board, responded to their not so wonderful "grade" in the report.

In a nutshell she says that the NIMF folks totally misunderstood the whole Manhunt 2 fiasco and that their "study" on parental awareness of video game ratings contradicts what the Federal Trade Commission found earlier this year.

Bottom line, the ESRB rating system is an effective and reliable resource for parents. We will continue to provide ratings that, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation , are considered by parents to be the most useful among media rating systems for movies, music, TV and games.

Sure, I could've gone with Plastic Man, Mr. Fantastic, Elongated Man or some other elastic type, but those felt a bit shameful. Regardless of the embarrassment of knowing who Ralph Dibny is, this amusing little bug from Bioware's Mass Effect was unique enough to share. According to read Ryan, the above game ending bug occurred "while playing Mass Effect, a box landed on my character and began smashing me into the ground. It never actually killed me but continued to stretch out all my limbs". I nominate this for best Xbox 360 glitch of 2007.

Mass Effect WTF [Flickr]

According to Next-Gen's blog, Capcom may be revealing a bit more of the recently announced Street Fighter IV this Thursday, including exactly how the game will look. How will the company show it off? Presumably via EGM magazine, by way of 1UP. The current issue of EGM teases in its closing comments "We're kicking off our first issue of the new year with a cover story so epic, we can't even tell you about it", signing off with a roman numeral three that looks suspiciously like it belongs in a Street Fighter logo. 1UP writes today that "you won't be disappointed" by the new EGM cover it will reveal on December 6th. Coincidence? Doubt it!

Uh oh. That's the day the new Grand Theft Auto IV trailer hits the web. Time to bring in some reserve internets.

Street Fighter IV Info Coming This Week [Next-Gen]
Save the Date: 1UP Coverage You Can't Miss [1UP]

Well technically it's multi-GPU, so if you're running a working GeForce 7950 GX2 or one of those bizarre contraptions ASUS and Gigabyte use to put together, then this includes you as well.

The patch, aimed at PCs running Windows Vista only, addresses a scheduling problem within the DirectX kernel. Here's the technobabble, which I'll attempt to decipher:

A graphics processing unit (GPU) or part of a GPU link may incur a small scheduling latency on a new Direct Memory Access (DMA) packet. This is true if the DMA packet is submitted to the GPU that has previously run out of work and if another GPU in the linked configuration is very busy. In some scenarios, significant starvation of one or more GPUs in the linked configuration reduces the expected performance of an application.

The link below is for the Knowledge Base article. If you want the hotfix, I'd suggest trying elsewhere (every couple of hours) or waiting for Service Pack 1.

Graphics performance can be improved in certain multiple-GPU scenarios on a Windows Vista-based computer [Microsoft via GGMania]

Of course I'm sure someone watches DIRECTV's Channel 101, where the Championship Gaming Series World Final will be aired later this week, but if the press release for the finals is going to go all crazy with hyperbole by calling this THE most important event in television history, I think I'm allowed to counter that with anti-hyperbole.

What exactly happened to the Championship Gaming Series? It's certainly hasn't stopped airing, in fact it's chugging along quite nicely, but it seems to have failed to break free of the niche fans that have always followed pro-gaming. I don't have any hard numbers to back this up, mostly because none have been released, but anecdotally the main stream audience doesn't seem interesting in pro-gaming, still.

What's more, while I certainly was impressed with the vast amount of resources DIRECTV dumped into the Championship Gaming Series, I can't imagine the company will continue to do so, not with rumours of shake-ups and firings within the company surfacing.

One problem, I think, is that DIRECTV is started with a limited audience and trying to attract them to something that is a hard sell to people who aren't gamers, heck even to people who are gamers.

While I wonder if they series will survive, let along thrive, it might be better to start wondering when, not if this league will go under.

Even wonder what thoughts are churning through your significant other's head as you spend hour umpteen in Halo 3's multiplayer? The always great McSweeney's has posted one of its trademark lists that reads like the inner musings of a woman who's inattentive boyfriend has become obsessed with the Xbox 360 game. I won't quote, as they're fantastic in context and might help salvage at least one relationship out there suffering from Master Chief addiction.

Halo 3 Cheat Codes As Explained by Neglected Girlfriend Janet Iverson [McSweeney's via negatendo]

Hey, those Xbox Originals (aka old Xbox games) have arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace as of today, bringing a handful of extras with them. While the more mundane but practical stuff includes PDF instruction manuals and online controller mappings for games like Psychonauts, Halo and Indigo Propechy, there are some fun freebies, too. Picture packs and themes for each of the Xbox Originals are available for download by going to Marketplace > Game Store > Xbox Originals. Gussy up your Xbox 360 blades with free Fable stuff, if you want. Huzzah!

Xbox Originals Manuals and Controller layouts (and free themes and picture packs) [Microsoft]