Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts OST

Are you one of those video game fans that loves the music in the game more than what's on the radio? Well you aren't alone!

Sumthing Else Music Works has teamed up with Micosoft and Rare to bring you Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Original Soundtrack, the OST based on the third game in the series. This work will consist of the game's original score and all the in game tracks. In case you need the credentials of the OST's included artists, musical compositions will be included from Robin Beanland (Killer Instict, Conker's Bad Fur Day), Grant Kirkhope (both previous Banjo titles) and David Clynick (Perfect Dark, Perfect Dark Zero).

BK

Today's Nintendo Shop Downloads: June 29

Here are today's Wii and DS download games!
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WiiWare

Water Warfare™
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points™
Description: Water Warfare is a comical first-person shooter that uses water guns to battle and soak opponents. A map with a particular theme - Playground, Beach, Plaza or Nature Park - is generated automatically when the game begins, so you can think up new strategies each time you engage. Game modes include Single Player Missions, CPU Match and 2-Player Split Screen. On top of that, players with broadband Internet access can use Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection to battle with up to eight players from around the world, or participate in Ranking Mode.

Reel Fishing® Challenge
Publisher: Natsume, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Reel Fishing Challenge offers a fun and challenging experience for novice fishers and master anglers alike. Put your skills to the test and discover new types of fish in the challenging mission mode, or relax and enjoy the game at your own pace in free play mode. No matter which mode you play, the game's beautiful graphics and natural setting bring the fishing experience to life. Choose from a variety of lures to attract and hook the game's numerous fish. Each fish looks and moves like the real thing - it's the closest you can get to real-life fishing without putting on your waders.

Silver Star Reversi
Publisher: Agetec, Inc.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Silver Star Reversi has two modes: 1-Player mode allows you to play a match against the computer opponent, and 2-Player mode allows you to play against another person. In 1-Player mode, you can choose from five different computer opponents, turn the background music on or off, adjust sound effects and access in-game help features. During each match, you can also redo your last move, save the game at any point, or resign from the game. After a match has ended, you can review each move and resume the match from any point you choose.

Virtual Console™

Fantasy Zone™ II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
Original platform: SEGA MASTER SYSTEM
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Ten years have elapsed since Opa-Opa restored peace to the Fantasy Zone. Now history is repeating itself, and the planets that make up the Fantasy Zone once again find themselves attacked by the mastermind of the Nenon planet forces. This mastermind is secretly constructing a huge fortress in the Fantasy Zone and aims to put an end to their ambitious plans. Just as he did 10 years ago, Opa-Opa must do battle to save the Fantasy Zone.

Nintendo DSiWare™

SUDOKU MASTER
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: SUDOKU MASTER offers 150 unique puzzles that beginners and experts alike will enjoy. A handful of tutorials will help you learn the rules and controls as you go, and handy features like Write Mode and Temp Numbers make Sudoku pleasantly user-friendly. Feeling confident? Then try your hand at Title Mode to work your way up from Rookie to Sudoku Master. All puzzles were created by Sudoku veteran NIKOLI Co., Ltd., and tips from Sudoku godfather Maki Kaji are offered between games.

Madden NFL 10 NFC West, screens

EASports

The Conduit, Wi-Fi Multiplayer using Wii Speak video

Finally! A decent video showing off Wii Speak while using The Conduit. Apparently, you can only talk to friends. But I guess hit up the message boards online, befriend a bunch of random people, and you're good to go!

Super Saturday: Mario Galaxy 2 trailer

Incase you happened to have been vacationing under a rock, check out E3's trailer for Super Mario Galaxy 2. It's just as pretty if you've seen it 53 times...and counting.

Club Nintendo status resets in 3 days!

Don't forget folks... your Club Nintendo platinum or gold status will reset on June 30th. Don't worry though. All this means is that if you reached either of these status levels, you'll be eligible to receive a free gift from Nintendo. Really, all you need to know is that if you are close to achieving the gold or platinum status, make sure you rake in those coins within the next 3 days.

And don't feel like you have to spend all your coins! Your coins won't go anywhere, the only thing that will change is your status. So for the next Club Nintendo year, you may start out with your coinage amount from the previous year, but you'll need an additional 300 (Gold) or 600 (Platinum) to reach those status benchmarks.

So if you are on the fence of reaching one of these benchmarks, time is ticking!

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune movie in the works

The Hollywood Reporter has announced that a movie version of the popular video game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, is being developed by Columbia Pictures. Kyle Ward is penning the flick, having previous game to film experience with Kane & Lynch and the upcoming Hitman 2.

The film will be based on the first video game, and will most likely debut after the second video game in the series Uncharted 2, releases. So it's kind of a movie prequel to the second game's story of what you know happens based on both that and the original game, or something...
HR

Report: Sony developing PlayStation phone

Not it, but looks pretty cool!

Nikkei, a reputable Japanese news source, announced that Sony is beginning development on a new PlayStation phone starting July, that will naturally act as a portable gaming handheld comparable to some Apple product no one's heard of. I think it's called the... iPhone? Yeah, that's it. The iPhone.

According to the report, it will combine functionality of an Ericsson mobile (those still exist?) with PlayStation interface.

I wonder how this would sell compared to the much hyped, upcoming PSP Go and uber popular iPhone?
Reuters

Rollercoaster Rush heads to iPhone

Digital Chocolate, today announced that 3D Rollercoaster Rush is now available on Apple's App Store. Adapted specifically for iPhone and iPod touch, this game will thrill players with its stunning 3D graphics and expertly crafted tracks with realistic coaster physics.

“We were thrilled to see the original Rollercoaster Rush become a top downloaded game in June," said Trip Hawkins, CEO of Digital Chocolate. “Apple customers who enjoyed the original are going to love this 3D version where camera angles shift with the coaster.”

3D Rollercoaster Rush comes with 40 different rollercoaster tracks set in the Wild West, each with a Challenge Race Mode where you can play against the designer of the game! The game leverages the devices’ accelerometer feature allowing players to easily accelerate and brake by tilting the device to make the carts go faster and slower.

3D Rollercoaster Rush is available for $4.99 from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Bleep Bloop: Video Games based on Oscar winning films

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Soltice Sackboy's beard is pretty damn long

Kotaku got their hands on this chart, which shows just how long your beard will be when you equip your Sackboy with the free Soltice costume, now available:

DJ Hero more mainstream than Guitar Hero?

Activision CEO Mike Griffith in an interview with GamesIndustry claims that the upcoming turntable music title DJ Hero is actually more of a mainstream game than its Guitar based predecessors.

"It's certainly hitting a more mainstream and expanded audience from Guitar Hero. I think it will build on what Guitar Hero has been able to do."

Griffith goes on to talk about how Guitar Hero has made its way into 15 million homes, but that number is small compared to the 300 million homes they want to reach.

"DJ Hero is going to be expansive to the franchise and be particularly exciting for Europe where that genre of music is arguably more important than it is elsewhere."

While it may be true that remixed, techno music is heavily favored in Europe, the DJ scene seems to be the antithesis of mainstream here in the US, at least if you aren't in a big city.

GamesIndustry via Joystiq

Little Big Planet, free Summer Solstice costume

Do you enjoy dressing up your Sackboy? Obviously.

Available now, a Summer Solstice outfit is available for your little fabric friend, featuring a hooded robe, flowers and a flowing beard.

Additionally, sticker packs are now available by artist Jon Burgerman for $1.99. LBP will routinely release sticker packs based on the work on different artists.

I wonder if we'll get a Michael Jackson costume soon?
GayGamer

Madden NFL 10, NFC West ratings season preview

Can you feel it? With NFL OTA’s (Organized Team Activity) concluding, that means that start of training camp draws ever closer. What teams will lead the pack? Which players are prepped for a breakout season? Will your team be a contender or pretender? See how your favorite team and players will fair – according to the Madden NFL 10 Season Preview.

We continue our look at each team’s overall rating and individual player ratings with a focus on the NFC West division. In addition to the player ratings, a wealth of team-specific assets will be made available, for both the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, and Wii versions of Madden NFL 10.

Everything culminates on August 3rd, where Madden NFL 10 will predict the 2009 NFL division winners, season MVP, and more.

To view the overall team ratings for the Cardinals, Seahawks, 49ers and Rams as well as download the complete team roster ratings, visit the official Madden NFL 10 website below:

• Madden NFL 10 Season Preview

Up next week: The NFC East

Madden NFL 10 will be available on the Xbox 360® video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment systems, Wii™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

For more information about Madden NFL 10, visit http://maddennfl.easports.com/.

TMNT: Smash Up, Casey Jones, Foot Ninja and Utrominator screens

What We Have Learned as a Society...

Today's top story is more about how national and local news outlets are as pointless in today's world as the newspaper, and that the only quick, efficient and trustworthy sources are reputable Internet websites and social networking.

2 new Tingle titles revealed for DS

Everyone's favorite little green, thing, Tingle, is starring in two new DS titles. Color Changing Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love, and Deskisugi Tingle Pack.

Dekisugi Tingle Pack, currently available in Japan via DSi Ware, is actually more of a collection of Tingle based applications including a calculator, a fortune teller, a timer and a coin-flipper. Color Changing Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love, is a full sequel to Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland.

G4TV

Corey Feldman responds to Michael Jackson's death

I promise, this is the last piece of non-gaming news. However, today is a defining moment in pop culture history. Corey Feldman was a long time friend of Michael Jackson. Here's what he had to say on his blog about his untimely death:

Hi everyone,

I come to you today with great sadness, acknowledging the loss of the greatest entertainer in the history of mankind. For me he was more than that, he was my idol, he was a role model, he was someone to cry to when my childhood was unbearable, he was a brother, he was a dear friend.

Unfortunately Michael and I had a falling out on Septenmber 10th 2001 and that broken friendship had never been repaired. I have stayed close with his family through the years. As a matter of fact my wife and I attended LaToyas birthday thrown by Janet 3 weeks ago on Susie’s actual birthday. Michael was supposed to be there and we were supposed to try and talk things out. Michael didn’t show because he was stuck in rehearsals for his upcoming tour.

I am trembling and shaking at the moment and it is very hard to type. I am filled with tremendous sadness and remorse. All I choose to remember from this point is the good times we shared and what an inspiration he was to me and the rest of the world. Nobody will ever be able to do what Michael Jackson has done in this industry, and he was so close to doing it all again. I am truly, and deeply sorry for all of the heartbroken fans and supporters worldwide. I think I am still in shock. So I must end this now.

As far as our concert on Saturday at Universal goes. I will not cancel this show it is a very positive first step in implementing a better standard for the touring world and music industry. As Michael taught me a long time ago……the show must go on. It will be a hard one to get through. But I will brave it and do the only thing I know how to do………perform.

I will see you out there Saturday night.

PEACE LOVE HAPPINESS TRUTH

Corey

Michael Jackson dies from cardiac arrest

Michael Jackson passed away today, at the age of 50.

Jackson apparently suffered from cardiac arrest today. Paramedics arrived to the scene but were too late to revive him.

Throughout his career, Jackson had several ups and downs. Known more recently in the press were the legal issues surrounding his upcoming "This Is It" tour at the O2 arena in London, and a possible video game in the works.

NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 DS, tips and tricks for you!

The fine folks at TOMY have provided some tips and tricks for you struggling with your NARUTO skills. Check them out below:

1. Tired of having to find alternate routes around seemingly impenetrable walls?
Choose Sakura as your main ninja and go right through the wall with her “Girl
Power” jutsu.

2. Some levels are dark! Try using Neji with his “Byakugan” jutsu to help navigate
through these tough levels.

3. Having a tough time with complicated jumping sequences? Choose Rock Lee with
his superior jumping ability and avoid these situations all together!

4. Sometimes regular jumping just isn’t enough. Use Naruto’s Toad summoning jutsu
to get to those high, hard to reach places. You just might find something valuable!

5. Ever come by a seemingly inaccessible switch in your travels? Try using Kakashi
and summon Pakkun to get into even the tightest spots.

6. Use your minimap to explore your surroundings. You never know what you’re
going to find!

7. When choosing your support ninja, take into consideration what you need for the
mission.
Are there lots of small foes that are hard to target? Use Rock Lee to clear them out.
Do you find that you are constantly searching for health potions? Sakura can help
heal your wounds.

8. Always be on your toes! Some platforms are not very stable and may fall once you
land on them. Time your jumps quickly and carefully to avoid falling!

9. Bosses are more challenging than any other ninja you face in a mission. Pull out all
the stops and use your most powerful jutsu against these foes!

10. Remember to use the gold you receive from completed missions. Sometimes
purchasing a new jutsu can mean the difference of finishing or failing a mission.