There's been some chatter around the web today that the Freeloader could be released next week. Is hell chilly or what?

Months ago we posted a hardware profile for Datel's Freeloader, a disc that

allows you to play imported games from any region.  The disc was supposed

to be released last year, but after numerous delays it was rumored that the

Freeloader would end as vaporware.

Today a few import

stores reported that they could be receiving their Freeloader shipments as

Sega's Skies of Arcadia Legends is on its way to retailers...

SEGA'S SKIES OF ARCADIA LEGENDS SHIPS OUT FOR NINTENDO GAMECUBE

Critically Acclaimed Role Playing Game Receives "Director's Cut"

SAN FRANCISCO - (January 28, 2003) - SEGA(R) of America, Inc. today

announced the release of the epic role-playing adventure "Skies of

Arcadia(TM) Legends" exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube(TM). The second

We told you about Jeff Minter's Unity the other day. Now see the official announcement from Lionhead Studios.

UNITY

n. pl. u·ni·ties

The state or quality of being one; singleness. The state or quality of being in accord; harmony.

Lionhead Studios is delighted to announce a collaborative project between two of the games industry's most respected veterans, Peter Molyneux and Jeff Minter.

Lionhead... Read more...

5 fresh new movies direct from the World Hobby Fair in Japan!

Our Japanese Correspondent Bakudan Yoshinoya was on the scene at the World

Hobby Fair in Japan, and got some excellent movies of F-Zero GC.  So how

fast does F-Zero look?  Check out these movies!  These were shot with

a digital video camera, and aren't direct feed.  What do you care? 

Major internet "worm" took down many web servers running SQL last night. Details inside ...

If you noticed that many of your favorite websites were out of commission or unreachable in the wee hours this morning, then you witnessed the effects of a major SQL virus that's been spreading like wildfire.

The gist of it is this ... servers running Microsoft SQL Server that are open to the... Read more...

MadCatz to begin shipping GameShark products in March. Get the juice right here...

Mad Catz Acquires Industry Leading GameShark Brand From Interact For $5 Million

January 23, 2003

Mad Catz Acquires Industry Leading GameShark Brand From Interact For $5 Million; Acquisition Will Ensure Continuity of Supply

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 2003--Mad Catz Interactive,... Read more...

"When we withdraw from the home game console, that's when we withdraw from the video game business."

In an interview with Reuters Thursday, Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata made it crystal clear that they intend to return to a leadership position in the next generation race. and will have a successor to the GameCube ready for 2005.

Nintendo is far behind Sony in the current console race, with... Read more...

A new GameCube project from the creator of Tempest 2000 has emerged.

Jeff Minter is best known for forming Llamasoft and 80's games including Gridrunner, Return of the Mutant Camels and Tempest 2000.

This month's Edge magazine contains a lengthy feature regarding his latest project, known as "Unity", for GameCube. It is primarily being developed by Jeff Minter... Read more...

Cute Japanese girl demonstrates that she can do two things at once by playing Dr. Mario and talking on a cell phone. Very impressive indeed.

The new commercial for Nintendo Puzzle Collection has hit the tube in Japan,

and we've got it here for you to download in two broadband conscious flavors. Updated!

We've just added gameplay footage as well. Get your puzzle love on!

*You will need Windows

Media Player to view these files.

Nintendo Puzzle Collection

As long as Fred Savage isn't in the movie, it's probably going to be a hit.

Variety.com is reporting that Hollywood producers Warren Zide and Craig Perry (whose credits include Final Destination and American Pie) have acquired the rights to make a movie based on Nintendo's Metroid game series. The producing duo is currently seeking out writers, directors, and some actors and actresses to fill out the roles of all involved. Here's the preliminaries, courtesy of Variety:

Two discs? How many tracks? An audio story book? Are you guys sure this is a Game Boy game?

XenGamers is reporting that with the upcoming release of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Square is releasing a set of game soundtracks.

On Feburary 19, an offical two-disc soundtrack will be released, with disc one containing the original music from the game, with disc two containing extended... Read more...

Nintendo isn’t the only company losing executives named Peter, or losing employees to Microsoft ...

Update: It appears that Peter Moore is now Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing at Microsoft. Congrats to Peter for hitting the ground running, and we hope that his new position finds him happy.

On Friday, Sega of America announced that its president and chief operating officer, Peter... Read more...

Less than a month out from Japanese SP launch, and the commercial is on the tube. We've got the first look at the new GBA SP commercial direct from Japan

The new Game Boy Advance SP commercial has hit the Japanese airwaves, and our

correspondent Bakudan Yoshinoya has captured it in all its 30 second glory.

Don't forget to right click and save these files to your computer.

*You will need Windows

Media Player to view these files.

Game Boy Advance SP Commerical

For a limited time, you can get one of four titles free with your GameCube purchase. Plus, new additions to Nintendo's "Player's Choice" line!

Starting on February 9th gamers that buy a GameCube at $149.99 from participating retailers will get one of four titles free.

Buyers can choose from Metroid Prime, Resident Evil 0, Star Fox Adventures or Mario Party 4.

The program is scheduled to end in May, but if the response is positive, it wouldn't be unheard of for Nintendo to extend the program into the Fall.

Treasure drops one hell of an amazing (and impossible) shooter for the GameCube in Japan this week and we've got movies. See Billy get reduced to kibble within moments...

We imported a copy of Treasure's new shooter Ikaruga from our good friends at

Video Game Depot, and yanked a

couple direct feed movies.  

See Billy get blown to bits over and over again.  Seriously, he sucks. 6

movies of straight up mayhem!

Don't forget to right click and save these files to your computer.

A small picture. And it's white.

We told you about the first Special Edition Game Boy Advance SP a few days ago, and now we've got the first picture.

This special edition Final Fantasy Tactics GBA SP will only be available through a special pre-order program at Japanese 7-11 stores.

Konami announces their 2003 "Blockbuster" line up. I guess, if you're a PS2 owner. See the little love Nintendo gets...

KONAMI ANNOUNCES BLOCKBUSTER 2003 LINE-UP

KONAMI GAMERS' DAY, SAN FRANCISCO - January 16, 2003 - Konami of America, Inc. today announced 16 new titles for 2003 including all-new versions of blockbuster franchises Castlevania®, Dance Dance RevolutionTM, Gradius®, Silent Hill®, Winning ElevenTM,... Read more...

Dust off your pizza launchers kids. The turtles are coming back with an all new cartoon, and games for the GC and GBA!

KONAMI GETS MUTANT WITH TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES IN OCTOBER 2003

All-New Games on Sony PlayStation® 2, Nintendo GameCubeTM, Nintendo Game Boy® Advance and PC CD-ROM

KONAMI GAMERS' DAY, SAN FRANCISCO - January 16, 2003 - Konami of America, Inc. today revealed that all-new Teenage... Read more...

For the love of Christ, how many times do we have to kill Dracula? Er...well this is the third go at it on the GBA. Get the meat.

THE LEGACY OF CASTLEVANIA CONTINUES IN CASTLEVANIA®: ARIA OF SORROWTM FOR NINTENDO GAME BOY® ADVANCE

KONAMI GAMERS' DAY, SAN FRANCISCO - January 16, 2003 - Konami of America, Inc. today revealed Castlevania®: Aria of SorrowTM, the latest in a series of Castlevania® titles for Nintendo Game... Read more...

Nintendo provides Australia with a solid release date for the latest addition to the Pokémon series of games.

AUSTRALIA, Melbourne, January 15th 2003 - With more than 100 million video games sold to date, Nintendo's top-selling Pokémon® series is making the jump to the world's favourite hand-held video game system, Game Boy Advance* and the upcoming Game Boy Advance* SP. Pokémon® RUBY and Pokémon® SAPPHIRE will be available in Australia on April 3rd, 2003.