PGC Reader Mickey was kind enough to send us some scans of his pre-order bonus for Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. Check them out!

Gamers that pre-order Pokemon Ruby or Sapphire from participating retailers will receive special holographic collector's coins as a bonus. While not quite on the level of two free games, these coins are pretty cool.

Thanks to reader "Mickey" for sending us these scans! Make sure you get your pre-orders in soon!

McDonald's and Sega hook up to add Sega themed toys to Happy Meals. Finally, Ai Ai Poo will be useful in the real world.

SEGA AND MCDONALD'S UNITE TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE PREMIUMS THIS SUMMER

Sonic The Hedgehog and Super Monkey Ball Branded Premiums Come Alive In

McDonald's Happy Meals This Summer

SAN FRANCISCO - (February 18, 2003) - SEGA(R) of America, Inc. today

announced it has entered into an affiliation with McDonald's(R) Corporation,

Codemasters is looking to secure 3-5 games at GDC. Details within.

Codemasters gears up for big spend at GDC.

GAME ACQUISTIONS A PRIORITY FOR CODEMASTERS AT BOOTH #434-436, GDC, MARCH 4-8.

Codemasters is attending this year's Game Developers Conference [GDC], March 4 – 8 in San Jose, California, with a clear mandate to acquire five A to triple-A game titles.

Details for the European version of the game and GameCube online hardware.

Phantasy Star Online is ready to deliver the biggest RPG experience for Nintendo ™ GameCube

The award-winning Phantasy Star Online sparked a worldwide gaming phenomenon. Now the world of Phantasy Star Online (PSO) is coming to NINTENDO GAMECUBE. Phantasy Star™ Online Episode I & II will... Read more...

But there is no fancy pre-order program this time around...

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER LIMITED EDITION HITS EUROPE

February 18 2003 - Nintendo today announce the eagerly anticipated news that a limited edition bonus disk will be included with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker at launch on 3rd May.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker,... Read more...

When they aren't torturing a poor GBA SP by setting it on fire, they're DISMEMBERING IT! Oh, the humanity!

How on earth did Nintendo cram the Game Boy Advance into this smaller size? Lik Sang was determined to find out, and find out they did.

There are some nice revelations to be had. First, the slick little baby-blue Lithium Ion battery is self contained and should be replaceable should it fail.

If you just spent $150 on an import GBA SP, what would you do? These jokers SET THEIRS ON FIRE!

Update: Lik Sang has pulled the "crash test", due to the outcry from customer who had yet to recieve their GBA SP units, while Lik Sang was destroying one. Turns out that the SP that Lik Sang set on fire was already defective, so they decided to have a little fun, and their customers didn't appreciate... Read more...

Or horsewoman, if you like. This time it's Pestilence, the bubonic beauty.

3DO Releases "Pestilence" on "The Four Horsemen of the ApocalypseT" Website

Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse Rides on www.4horsemen-game.com

SEVENTH LAYER, HELL (February 14, 2003) - She's beautiful and deadly. And

her ironic timing may catch some men at their most vulnerable. The fourth

Wait, that's not funny. There's like 82 Mikes working for PGC. It's the PLUMBER!

That's right, a big warm happy birthday wishes to Michael "The Younger Plumber" Cole.

We urge him not to drive. Anywhere. We also urge people not to ride with him. Well, maybe once. It's fun to do once. And then find someone else to drive. Bunnnnnng.

TYP turns a whopping 19 today. We wish him the best of birthday wishes!

Nintendo of Europe speaks on the successful Japanese launch.

A quote from David Gosen, and a reminder of the European release date for the console that everyone's after.

GBA SP Launches in Japan

14th February 2003 - “The GBA SP launched today in Japan. Hundreds of gamers were seen lining the streets eager to buy their very own GBA SP – the... Read more...

Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition: Stairway to the Destined Duel announced.

KONAMI ANNOUNCES NEW GAME BOY® ADVANCE TITLE IN THE MEGA-POPULAR YU-GI-OH!(tm) VIDEOGAME SERIES

Yu-Gi-Oh!(tm) Worldwide Edition: Stairway to the Destined Duel Set to Ship on April 15, 2003

REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. - February 14, 2003 - Konami of America, Inc. today revealed a brand... Read more...

The movie is based on the comic book and the video game is based on the movie. What will be next? A musical based on the video game?

EMPIRE SIGNS GAMES RIGHTS TO MGM'S ACTION/ADVENTURE BULLETPROOF MONK

Empire Interactive plc, a leading AIM listed computer games developer and publisher, today announced that it has licensed the interactive videogame rights to the eagerly awaited Hollywood action-adventure film, Bulletproof Monk.

Within hours the GBA SP was completely sold out. Find out everything FIRST from our Japanese Correspondent Bakudan Yoshinoya....

The new GBA SP was released in Japan today. Lines at stores began forming around midnight.

As of noon in Japan, most retailers in major areas (Shinjuku, Akihabara, Shibuya) are all sold out of GBA SPs. According to the sales staff, the next shipment date is unknown. The most popular color appears to be the platinum silver.

Can you blame him?

Professional BMX rider Dave Mirra is seeking a minimal amount of $21 million in “damages and injunctions” in an effort to prevent Acclaim from further advertising both Mirra’s name and likeness. The suit, filed last week, is based on Acclaim’s use of Mirra’s name in both print ads and promotions, despite supposed previous agreements to disassociate the biker from the title.

The director of the game shares his comments with Nintendo.com, while the site gives away the actual concert CD!

Masahiro Sakurai, the director of Super Smash Bros. Melee, talked with Nintendo.com about each of the music tracks found in the game, and the melodies performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra during the actual concert.

In addition to Sakurai-san's full commentary, the final page of the interview has comments from some of Nintendo's figureheads, including Koji Kondo and Game Freak's Hip Tanaka.

Still waiting for your Zelda bonus disc? Come check out what freebies you get with the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker when you pre-order!

The Wind Waker pre-order bonus disc contains full versions of The Ocarina of Time and its previously unreleased expansion, Master Quest, but the American version also comes with a handful of additional Easter Eggs.

As you can see from the photos, the bonus disc is treated... Read more...

The trend for game companies to consolidate continues as Sega and Sammy set to merge this October.

According to Bloomberg.com, Sega Corp. and Sammy Corp. have announced plans for a merger to take effect on October 1st.

Hajime Satomi, president of Sammy, is set to lead the joined company. The two companies will hold a briefing soon. As always, we'll have more on the story as it develops.

People who’re interested in importing a Game Boy Advance SP later this week may have a hard time getting a hold of one. We’ve got a few tips on where you’ll be able to pick one up.

I contacted our good friends over at Video Game Depot today and they informed me that they will be getting their full shipment this Friday. This is the current info they have on their website…

This morning we received final word on our shipment of GBA SP systems. And in general our news is... Read more...

Nintendo walks away with quite a few nominations. Check it out!

IGDA Announces Game Developers Choice Awards Nominees

The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) announced the nominees for the Third Annual Game Developers Choice Awards, which will be handed out during at a ceremony at the Game Developers Conference on March 6.

The nominees are:

Word on the streets says you can get the Zelda bonus disc today.

Retailers have had them for days. Web retailers like Ebworld.com and Gamestop.com have already shipped.

We've received an internal e-mail from a "well known retail chain" employee that gave them the green light to distribute the discs now.

Stores in on the deal are currently breaking the release date for the Zelda bonus disc. Call your local retailer to see if you can get your pre-order bonus early!