Happy Holidays from GameSpot

As the entire gaming industry winds down at the end of an eventful year, so too will operations at GameSpot. Most of us will be taking a break between now and Monday, January 4, 2010. However, a skeleton crew of Scrooges will still be updating GameSpot with new content in the days ahead. You can also expect to see some of us in our forums.

The Special Achievement, Dubious Honors, and Genre Award winners of GameSpot's Best of 2009 awards have already been announced. The platform-specific honors will be doled out Thursday, December 24, with GameSpot's Game of the Year 2009 crowned on Friday, December 25.

If that's not enough, GameSpot's Day After Christmas feature will go up the day after Christmas (obviously), and include a host of strategy and hardware guides to help gamers get the most from their gifts. And Sega fans should check back from December 28th through the 31st for new coverage of Yakuza 3, Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll, Valkyria Chronicles 2, and Resonance of Fate, all courtesy of the GameSpot Australia team.

In the meantime, holiday shoppers can visit GameSpot's 2009 Holiday Gift Guide to find many of the top picks of the year's bumper crop of titles.

Thanks to all our dedicated users for your support during an unforgettable (and at-times arduous) year for the gaming industry. We bid you farewell until 2010 and wish you and your families a happy, safe holiday.

Game releases hold steady in 2009

Judging from the glut of potential blockbusters that were delayed to next year, one might get the impression that 2009 saw fewer games released than normal. That's actually not the case, according to Electronic Entertainment Design and Research analyst Jesse Divnich.

Click for a larger version.

Citing figures from EEDAR's GamePulse service, Divnich told GameSpot that 2009 saw 1,099 games debut at US retailers across all platforms, up slightly from the previous year's 1,092 releases. Although the quantity of titles hasn't changed much, the steady flow of new releases has some significant implications when combined other factors.

"For just the current generation home consoles (PS3/360/Wii), 2009's release quantities increase the total availability of games to consumers by 55 percent," Divnich noted. "Unless retail shelf space grows by the same amount--and it isn't--than the retail shelf life for an average game decreases dramatically. Additionally, each year there are at least 50 games that achieve a permanent spot on retail shelves (Greatest Hits, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, etc.), which decreases the total amount of retail space available for newer titles."

Shelf space isn't the only commodity new games have to fight over. With industry sales down year-over-year, there are fewer consumer dollars spread out over a larger number of possible purchases.

"Because our industry is not growing at the same rate as release quantities, it does mean the average new release is producing fewer unit sales than in previous years," Divnich said.

Breaking down the number of new releases by platform (see picture), Divnich noted that despite slowing sales momentum, the DS and Wii both saw significant bumps in their new release numbers. Meanwhile, new PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 retail releases were flat and slightly down for the year, respectively, which Divnich attributed to the rise in digital distribution.

Beyond simply selling games online instead of in stores, developers are spending more time supporting released titles with downloadable content, Divnich said. Over time, those extra resources could lead to fewer games finding their way into retail.

Looking ahead to next year, Divnich expects a 5-8 percent drop in the number of games to hit shelves. He attributed the expected drop to a combination of factors including industry consolidation, and peak release trends from previous console generations. He also emphasized the impact of digital distribution, saying that if projects like OnLive and GaiKai pan out, the number of boxed retail games released for the year could drop as much as 10 percent.

PlayStation 3 | PSN gets MAG beta, Savage Moon PSP

This week's retail release list for Sony systems is embarrassingly light, consisting entirely of Guitar Hero: Van Halen for the PlayStation 3. However, the PlayStation maker is compensating with an assortment of new releases and seasonal deals on its downloadable storefront.

MAG is almost here.

Leading off the weekly PlayStation Store update is an offering gamers actually won't be able to play for a little while yet. Sony is letting users download the client program for the MAG open beta right now, although the actual testing period won't begin until January 4. Sony has the beta period slated to end the night of January 10, with the final retail release of MAG set for January 26.

PS3 owners looking for more immediate gratification have a number of new options at their disposal, starting with the fighting game Battle Fantasia from Arc System Works ($19.99). Although this marks the game's domestic debut for the PS3, Battle Fantasia was originally released on the Xbox 360 last year and on both platforms internationally.

The PlayStation Store is also adding the new PS3 block-based puzzler Polar Panic ($9.99) to its catalog, as well as a $19.99 PixelJunk bundle that includes the developer's first three games: PixelJunk Racers, PixelJunk Monsters, and PixelJunk Eden.

Sony is also padding out its selection of original PlayStation games with the 1997 port of the space combat game Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom. It turns out The Price of Freedom is $5.99, which buys a version of the game playable on the PS3, as well as the PSP, and features a cutscene-intensive storyline with live-action footage featuring the likes of Mark Hamill and Malcolm McDowell. The game's emphasis on video can be seen in its 2.25GB file size (nearly twice the size of Battle Fantasia).

Gamers on the go for the holidays can also check the PlayStation Store for new PSP releases, led by a portable edition of the tower defense game Savage Moon. The $9.99 download lets players protect a mining colony from vicious buglike creatures with the strategic placement of defenses. The PSP catalog is also bolstered by the arrival of Me & My Katamari ($19.99), Football Manager Handheld 2010 ($23.99), and Aedis Eclipse ($9.99).

Sony is also getting into the holiday spirit with price breaks throughout the PlayStation Store until January 7. Sega and Electronic Arts in particular have cut prices on many of their offerings, from add-on packs to full game downloads for both PS3 and PSP. A full list of the week's deals, new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, and add-on content is available on the official PlayStation Blog.

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Xbox 360 | THQ locks up WWE for 8 more years

Like any great tag team of the squared circle, the alliance between THQ and World Wrestling Entertainment has been a tumultuous one. The pair has been tied up in multiple court battles (along with former WWE toy licensee Jakks Pacific) since 2004, with the wrestling organization trying to have its game deal annulled due to unauthorized sublicensing and alleged racketeering.

Bitter enemies turned BFFs.

The two companies appear to have put their troubled past behind them, as THQ today announced an exclusive new eight-year deal to make and sell games based on the WWE license worldwide. The new THQ-WWE deal goes into effect January 1, 2010.

Additionally, THQ settled its legal disputes with both WWE and Jakks. The three companies came to a mutual agreement that will see no party admit any wrongdoing. However, THQ said it would be paying WWE $13.2 million under the settlement, while Jakks will receive $20 million from the publisher, split up over the next four years. Finally, THQ/Jakks Pacific, the joint venture under which the two companies originally produced WWE-licensed games, will be terminated at the end of the year.

The agreement should put THQ investors at ease, as recent years have seen the WWE-branded games account for roughly 25 percent of the company's total revenues. From the time THQ acquired the license in 1999 through September, the publisher has reported more than $1.4 billion in revenues from WWE games sold at US retailers alone.

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Xbox 360 | American developer count stalls as Canada's explodes

Despite a year riddled with layoffs, closures, and cutbacks, the American game developer community actually expanded in 2009, according to a report from Game Developer Research. The group's third annual census found a bump of less than 1 percent in the number of people employed in the US gaming industry, while its Canadian counterpart enjoyed an employment surge of more than 31 percent for 2009.

"US gaming headcount flat year-over-year? I demand a recount!"

According to the report, cutbacks in many sectors of the US gaming industry were offset by a crop of new social and online gaming studios. In 2008, the census found the US gaming industry employed about 44,400 people, while this year's tally edged upward to 44,806. California represents nearly half of that total with 20,815 gaming employees, followed by Washington (more than 4,500 employed) and Texas (2,600). Five other states also boasted development communities over 1,000 people.

As for Canada, the census showed new studios cropping up, as well as expansion of major company's existing studios. With growing development scenes in Vancouver and Montreal, as well as a fledgling community in Toronto, Canada's developer base jumped from 9,500 in 2008 to 12,480 in 2009.

More on the survey from Game Developer Research can be found on the group's official site.

Mobile | THQ locks up WWE for 8 more years

Like any great tag team of the squared circle, the alliance between THQ and World Wrestling Entertainment has been a tumultuous one. The pair have been tied up in multiple court battles (along with former WWE toy licensee Jakks Pacific) since 2004, with the wrestling organization trying to have its game deal annulled due to unauthorized sublicensing and alleged racketeering.

Bitter enemies turned BFFs.

The two companies appear to have put their troubled past behind them, as THQ today announced an exclusive new eight-year deal to make and sell games based on the WWE license worldwide. The new THQ-WWE deal goes into effect January 1, 2010.

Additionally, THQ settled its legal disputes with both WWE and Jakks. The three companies came to a mutual agreement that will see no party admit any wrongdoing. However, THQ said it would be paying WWE $13.2 million under the settlement, while Jakks will receive $20 million from the publisher, split up over the next four years. Finally, THQ/Jakks Pacific, the joint venture under which the two companies originally produced WWE-licensed games, will be terminated at the end of the year.

The agreement should put THQ investors at ease, as recent years have seen the WWE-branded games account for roughly 25 percent of the company's total revenues. From the time THQ acquired the license in 1999 through September, the publisher has reported more than $1.4 billion in revenues from WWE games sold at US retailers alone.

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Xbox 360 | Crackdown 2 due first half of 2010

It was already clear that the early part of 2010 will have no shortage of big-name releases, and Xbox 360 director of product management Aaron Greenberg just dropped another long-awaited game on the ever-growing pile. In an appearance on Xbox Live programming director Larry Hryb's Major Nelson podcast, Greenberg included Crackdown 2 on a list of Xbox 360 exclusives due out by July.

Crackdown 2 promises to inflict even more collateral damage on the unfortunate residents of Pacific City.

"Starting in January, we have a AAA exclusive title pretty much every month for the first half of the year," Greenberg said. "You got Mass Effect 2, you got Splinter Cell, you got Alan Wake, you got Crackdown 2."

Previously, Crackdown 2 had only been tagged with a vague 2010 release window. Ruffian Games is creating the open-world sequel, taking over for original developer Realtime Worlds. The team at Ruffian is taking one of the original game's biggest strengths--online cooperative play throughout the campaign--and expanding it to support four players. Crackdown 2 will also feature competitive multiplayer modes for up to 16 gamers.

For more on Crackdown 2, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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Xbox 360 | American developer tally stalls as Canada's explodes

Despite a year riddled with layoffs, closures, and cutbacks, the American game developer community actually expanded in 2009, according to a report from Game Developer Research. The group's third annual census found a bump of less than 1 percent in the number of people employed in the US gaming industry, while its Canadian counterpart enjoyed an employment surge of more than 31 percent for 2009.

"US gaming headcount flat year-over-year? I demand a recount!"

According to the report, cutbacks in many sectors of the US gaming industry were offset by a crop of new social and online gaming studios. In 2008, the census found the US gaming industry employed about 44,400 people, while this year's tally edged upward to 44,806. California represents nearly half of that total with 20,815 gaming employees, followed by Washington (more than 4,500 employed) and Texas (2,600). Five other states also boasted development communities over 1,000 people.

As for Canada, the census showed new studios cropping up, as well as expansion of major company's existing studios. With growing development scenes in Vancouver and Montreal, as well as a fledgling community in Toronto, Canada's developer base jumped from 9,500 in 2008 to 12,480 in 2009.

More on the survey from Game Developer Research can be found on the group's official site.

American developer tally stalls as Canada's explodes

Despite a year riddled with layoffs, closures, and cutbacks, the American game developer community actually expanded in 2009, according to a report from Game Developer Research. The group's third annual census found a bump of less than 1 percent in the number of people employed in the US gaming industry, while its Canadian counterpart enjoyed an employment surge of more than 31 percent for 2009.

"US gaming headcount flat year-over-year? I demand a recount!"

According to the report, cutbacks in many sectors of the US gaming industry were offset by a crop of new social and online gaming studios. In 2008, the census found the US gaming industry employed about 44,400 people, while this year's tally edged upward to 44,806. California represents nearly half of that total with 20,815 gaming employees, followed by Washington (more than 4,500 employed) and Texas (2,600). Five other states also boasted development communities over 1,000 people.

As for Canada, the census showed new studios cropping up, as well as expansion of major company's existing studios. With growing development scenes in Vancouver and Montreal, as well as a fledgling community in Toronto, Canada's developer base jumped from 9,500 in 2008 to 12,480 in 2009.

More on the survey from Game Developer Research can be found on the group's official site.

DS | Dark Void Zero goes retro on DSiWare

When Capcom announced that its jetpack-powered 3D action shooter Dark Void was coming to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, owners of Nintendo systems may have felt a bit left out. The publisher is rectifying that in a way, as it has revealed that it is making a downloadable DSi prequel to the game, Dark Void Zero.

How is he supposed to see where he's flying, again?

Much like the company's Mega Man 9, the game is being made with an 8-bit aesthetic. But where that title took advantage of gamer nostalgia surrounding the original Mega Man series, Dark Void is an original IP with no history beyond the current game.

Undeterred, Capcom has created a fictitious backstory for the game, claiming it to be an unreleased project for the Nintendo PlayChoice 10 system, which adapted Nintendo Entertainment System games for use in arcades. In addition to blocky visuals and a new chip-tune soundtrack, Dark Void Zero evokes nostalgia by asking players to "blow" on a virtual cartridge (using the DSi's microphone) before playing the game.

When it launches in January, Dark Void Zero will cost 500 DSi points ($5). The console and PC editions of Dark Void are set to launch January 19. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's hands-on impressions.

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Wii | Lost Planet 2, Super Street Fighter IV, Monster Hunter Tri pushed past March

Capcom was one of the first publishers to reap significant rewards from releasing blockbuster games in the first quarter of the year, when the competition is traditionally sparse. Since 2005, the publisher has chosen the first three months of the year as prime launch windows for heavy hitters like Resident Evil 4, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, Devil May Cry 4, Street Fighter IV, and Resident Evil 5.

Super Street Fighter IV's Cody will have to cool his heels a little while longer.

While the publisher planned to follow form in 2010, Capcom of Japan today delayed Lost Planet 2, Super Street Fighter IV, and international launches of Monster Hunter Tri for the Wii out past March. The move was made in an attempt to avoid competition with other publishers' major titles set for the first quarter of the year.

Capcom hasn't abandoned the first quarter entirely. A representative confirmed for GameSpot that two of its announced titles, Dark Void for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, and Capcom vs. Tatsunoko for the Wii, are still set for launch January 19 and January 26, respectively.

Capcom's trepidation is understandable, as the first three months of 2010 are set to host a parade of highly anticipated titles, many of them delayed from originally planned holiday 2009 launches. Beyond Dark Void and Tatsunoko, the first quarter will also see releases for Mass Effect 2, God of War III, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Final Fantasy XIII, Dante's Inferno, BioShock 2, Army of Two: The 40th Day, MAG, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, and plenty more.

The delays were announced alongside a reduction in Capcom's forecast for its current fiscal year, ending March 31, 2010. The publisher had been expecting to bring in ?95 billion ($1.04 billion) for the full year, but slashed that number 32 percent to ?65 billion ($709 million) in light of the delays. Going forward, Capcom said it would spread its new releases throughout the year "to prevent an excessive contribution from new titles in the [January-March] quarter."

Capcom had been expecting to sell more than 4.8 million copies this year among the three games (3.7 million for Lost Planet 2, 1.1 million for Super Street Fighter IV, and 500,000 copies of the international edition of Monster Hunter Tri). The publisher also reduced its expectations for Dark Void by more than half, revising its previous forecast of 1.3 million copies sold through March to just 600,000. No reason was given for the lowered expectations for Dark Void.

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PlayStation 3 | MAG golden, open beta due Jan. 4

Originally slated for a late 2009 release, Zipper Interactive's online military shooter MAG has been locked and loaded for a January 26 deployment on the PlayStation 3 since August. Today, Sony Computer Entertainment confirmed that MAG will only see the one release-date misfire, as the North American and Asian editions of the game have gone gold. Sony expects the European edition to pass certification in the next couple of weeks, though no release date was offered for the region.

Massive Action Game isn't an overstatement.

Along with announcing that the game has been shipped to manufacturers for mass production, Sony also said that MAG's open beta test will commence on January 4. The open beta will be available in all regions and ends on January 10 at 11:59 p.m. PST. North American gamers can begin downloading the open beta client on December 22, though Sony reiterated that gamers won't be able to actually enter the game until the first week of 2010.

Developed by former SOCOM specialty studio Zipper Interactive, MAG is an ambitious online military shooter that will feature 256 players in a single game. Each player will assume a different rank on each side, viewing the battlefield according to his or her station. Commanders will see the action from a top-down view from which they can direct lower-level soldiers, who will see from a first-person point of view on the front lines.

For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of MAG.

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PlayStation 3 | Take-Two sells distribution arm, cuts Q1 forecast by $120 million

The Synnex Corporation sounds like the name of a fictional megacorporation up to no good in a sci-fi film. However, the Fortune 500 company is quite real--and soon to be the new owner of Take-Two Interactive's retail game distribution business.

Take-Two is selling off its game-distribution arm.

Today, New York-headquartered Take-Two announced it has sold off its Ohio-based games subsidiary Jack of All Games. As a result, the publisher will receive $43.25 million--$36.50 million in cash and an additional $6.75 million based "the achievement of certain items." However, after taxes, the publisher expects to take a small loss on the sale, which comes one week after a dismal earnings report sparked talk of a shareholder revolt led by investor Carl Icahn.

"The sale of Jack of All Games is consistent with our stated intention to focus our resources on our core business strategy," said Take-Two CEO Ben Feder in a statement.

The buyout is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2010, and its impact on Jack of All Games' 90 full-time employees is unclear. However, its impact on Take-Two's finances was immediately reflected. This afternoon, the game publisher lowered its earnings estimate for the November-January period, its first fiscal quarter, from $210 million-$260 million to $90 million-$140 million. For its full fiscal year, which ends on October 31, 2010, the company expects revenues of $710 million-$910 million. Previously, the company expected to take in $1 billion-$1.2 billion.

When completed, today's deal will see Synnex become the main retail distributor of all Take-Two games, as well at the third-party titles Jack of All Games previously brought to retail. Based in the San Francisco suburb of Fremont, California, Synnex currently specializes in IT distribution and supply chain management and employs 7,000 people in seven countries. In 2008, its annual revenue topped $7.7 billion, nearly seven times that of Take-Two.

PC | Xbox Avatars to 'encourage exercise'?

Microsoft has shown a keen interest in boosting the Xbox 360's status as a community hub. Leading this initiative has been Xbox Live Avatars, which offer a 3D representation of their owners on the online service. Now, Microsoft is contemplating tying real-world health and psychological data to said avatars in an effort to discourage many-a-gamer's sedentary lifestyle.

Here's the gist of what Microsoft has in mind.

Last week, Microsoft's patent application titled "Avatar Individualized by Physical Characteristic" popped up in the US Patent and Trademark Offices' online database. The filing details a way in which Microsoft can introduce a heightened degree of reality into the appearance of gamers' avatars by utilizing a third-party health-care data repository (Microsoft gives Health Vault as an example) or a Wii Vitality Sensor-like device.

To incentivize people to improve their physical well-being, Microsoft's filing notes that gamers will be locked out of certain components of a game or a chat room until the proper health parameters are met.

"Physical data that reflects a degree of health of the real person can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming avatar, an amount of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication," the filing reads. "Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise."

"For example, a locally executed video game on a game console or other device capable of interactive play rewards players that have achieved a degree of health or athletic skill in real life, even if played in a solitary fashion," the filing reads. "Alternatively or in addition, the degree of health can unlock additional playing time or can unlock certain aspects of a game, such as additional levels."

Microsoft's patent application might tie in with Project Natal, the Xbox 360's forthcoming camera-based motion-sensing add-on. As part of its 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference, Microsoft showed off how the device will scan a person's body and represent it onscreen via physically proportionate silhouette. It also showed off several activity-oriented titles in development for Project Natal, including the physically demanding Ricochet, a 3D, full-body version of Breakout.

Microsoft's filing goes on to note that it wouldn't just be physical characteristics that could be refined. "The physical characteristics can be further extended to psychological traits associated with the physical person, including intelligence, religious beliefs, political affiliations, and hobbies that affect the rendering of an avatar," the application reads.

The filing also indicates ways in which Microsoft can facilitate determining an individual's mental health or mood. "For example, as a person utilizes Voice over IP to chat with a viewing person in the virtual environment, stress could be detected to gauge honesty," the application notes. "As another example, skin resistance, pulse, and breathing could be detected to gauge mood."

According to the filing, the data will be beneficial to individuals looking to "meet and become acquainted with particular types of people." Microsoft's application notes that while self-defined avatars allow people to "overcome shortcomings that would otherwise inhibit them, such as pertaining to self-consciousness," there are those who would prefer to have "the cues that are available in meeting someone in person."

PlayStation 2 | Shippin' Out December 20-26: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

'Twas the week before (and including) Christmas, and all through the lands, not a game was releasing, except for a pair of big brands. Tortured poetry aside, this week sees just two big retail releases: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers for the Wii and Guitar Hero: Van Halen on a handful of platforms.

Square Enix is intentionally releasing a game in the last week of the year. Is the publisher crazy or brilliant?

Activision is first out of the gates with an edition of Guitar Hero dedicated to the David Lee Roth-led incarnation of the hard rock band. Although the game is appearing in stores for the first time this week, it was originally given away in October to early purchasers of Guitar Hero 5.

The release plans of this week's other title are almost as unconventional. Months ago, Square Enix chose the day after Christmas to launch its latest Wii installment in the Final Fantasy franchise. While other major games have launched in the last week of the year before (Dead or Alive 4 for the Xbox 360 released December 29, 2005), it's more common for that to happen by delay rather than by design.

Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21
No new releases announced.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22
Guitar Hero: Van Halen--PS3, X360, Wii, PS2--Activision
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23
No new releases announced.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24
No new releases announced.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25
No new releases announced.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers--WII--Square Enix

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PC | 'Ghost Recon Future Soldier' trademarked

Ever since it was first revealed in January--and officially announced in April--Ghost Recon 4 has been shrouded in mystery. No details on the next installment in the Tom Clancy-inspired tactical shooter series have been revealed other than its release window, which will be sometime after March 2010.

Even the game's name is a working title, obscuring whether it is a direct sequel to the last installment in the series, 2007's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2. That mystery deepened in October, when the Australian Classification Board classified a game called "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Predator."

GRAW2 already had non-deployed military technology. Will Future Solider do the same?

Now, the plot has thickened further. According to a December 14 US Patent & Trademark Office filing filing, French publisher Ubisoft has trademarked the term "Ghost Recon Future Solider" for use in "game software and electronic game programs." The trademark also extends to games for PCs, consoles, handhelds, and mobile phones.

The title Ghost Recon Future Soldier raises several possibilities. The most likely is that the game will concern the Future Soldier programs being conducted by the US and its NATO allies. The initiative, currently part of the US Army's Brigade Combat Team Modernization Program, focuses on outfitting infantrymen with networked communications and high-tech equipment. Much of that equipment was featured in the critically acclaimed Advanced Warfighter 2, set during a fictional conflict in the year 2013. (GameSpot's video review is below.)

Unfortunately, any official announcements regarding the game will likely not be made this year. When asked by GameSpot about the trademark and the status of the new Ghost Recon game, Ubisoft reps offered only a clipped "no comment."

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PC | Xbox Avatars to 'ecourage exercise'?

Microsoft has shown a keen interest in boosting the Xbox 360's status as a community hub. Leading this initiative has been Xbox Live Avatars, which offer a 3D representation of their owners on the online service. Now, Microsoft is contemplating tying real-world health and psychological data to said avatars in an effort to discourage many-a-gamer's sedentary lifestyle.

Here's the gist of what Microsoft has in mind.

Last week, Microsoft's patent application titled "Avatar Individualized by Physical Characteristic" popped up in the US Patent and Trademark Offices' online database. The filing details a way in which Microsoft can introduce a heightened degree of reality into the appearance of gamers' avatars by utilizing a third-party health-care data repository (Microsoft gives Health Vault as an example) or a Wii Vitality Sensor-like device.

To incentivize people to improve their physical well-being, Microsoft's filing notes that gamers will be locked out of certain components of a game or a chat room until the proper health parameters are met.

"Physical data that reflect a degree of health of the real person can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming avatar, an amount of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication," the filing reads. "Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise."

"For example, a locally executed video game on a game console or other device capable of interactive play rewards players that have achieved a degree of health or athletic skill in real life, even if played in a solitary fashion," the filing reads. "Alternatively or in addition, the degree of health can unlock additional playing time or can unlock certain aspects of a game, such as additional levels."

Microsoft's patent application might tie in with Project Natal, the Xbox 360's forthcoming camera-based motion-sensing add-on. As part of its 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference, Microsoft showed off how the device will scan a person's body and represent it on screen via physically proportionate silhouette. It also showed off several activity-oriented titles in development for Project Natal, including the physically demanding Ricochet, a 3D, full-body version of Breakout.

Microsoft's filing goes on to note that it wouldn't just be physical characteristics that could be refined. "The physical characteristics can be further extended to psychological traits associated with the physical person, including intelligence, religious beliefs, political affiliations, and hobbies that affect the rendering of an avatar," the application reads.

The filing also indicates ways in which Microsoft can facilitate determining individuals mental health or mood. "For example, as a person utilizes Voice over IP to chat with a viewing person in the virtual environment, stress could be detected to gauge honesty," the application notes. "As another example, skin resistance, pulse, and breathing could be detected to gauge mood."

According to the filing, the data will be beneficial to individuals looking to "meet and become acquainted with particular types of people." Microsoft's application notes that while self-defined avatars allow people to "overcome shortcomings that would otherwise inhibit them, such as pertaining to self-consciousness," there are those who would prefer to have "the cues that are available in meeting someone in person."

Wii | Shippin' Out December 20-26: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

'Twas the week before (and including) Christmas, and all through the lands, not a game was releasing, except for a pair of big brands. Tortured poetry aside, this week sees just two big retail releases: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers for the Wii and Guitar Hero: Van Halen on a handful of platforms.

Square Enix is intentionally releasing a game in the last week of the year. Is the publisher crazy or brilliant?

Activision is first out of the gates with an edition of Guitar Hero dedicated to the David Lee Roth-led incarnation of the hard rock band. Although the game is appearing in stores for the first time this week, it was originally given away in October to early purchasers of Guitar Hero 5.

The release plans of this week's other title are almost as unconventional. Months ago, Square Enix chose the day after Christmas to launch its latest Wii installment in the Final Fantasy franchise. While other major games have launched in the last week of the year before (Dead or Alive 4 for the Xbox 360 released December 29, 2005), it's more common for that to happen by delay rather than by design.

Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21
No new releases announced.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22
Guitar Hero: Van Halen--PS3, X360, Wii, PS2--Activision
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23
No new releases announced.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24
No new releases announced.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25
No new releases announced.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers--WII--Square Enix

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PlayStation 2 | 2K Sports benching NHL series?

Source: In a post to his Pastapadre site, former SportsGamer writer Brian Wiedey pointed out that Take-Two Interactive neglected to include NHL 2K11 on its 2010 release schedule.

What we heard: As Wiedey pointed out, Take-Two's fiscal fourth quarter report (released yesterday) has been the publisher's preferred opportunity to confirm new installments in its long-running ice hockey series.

NHL 2K10 cover athlete Alex Ovechkin, understandably furious, heartbroken, and/or surprised at rumors of the series' demise.

That alone might not raise eyebrows, as Take-Two's preliminary 2010 lineup is far from inclusive, consisting of only seven games. However, the publisher did specify that it would have MLB 2K11 and a new NBA 2K11 game next year, leaving NHL as the only annualized Take-Two sports franchise unaccounted for.

Dropping the NHL series would make some sense for Take-Two. 2K's games have been a distant second to EA's efforts this generation, both critically and commercially. And while the recent Wii edition of NHL 2K10 was warmly received by critics and vigorously supported with TV advertising, that hasn't significantly boosted sales over last year's edition. With the publisher's stated focus on AAA game development, a middling licensed franchise with a limited potential audience up against tough competition every year might be a tempting target for cutting costs.

Take-Two also seems to be shying away from the need to compete with EA in the sports genre. It was the desire to compete that led the publisher's management team (a group since ousted) to shell out for third-party exclusivity on the Major League Baseball license, a move that executives said will cost Take-Two $30-35 million during its current fiscal year alone.

The official story: "We are currently in the process of evaluating our sports portfolio and have not announced any new NHL titles at this time."--A 2K Sports representative.

Bogus or not bogus?: Tentatively not bogus, but no matter how one slices it, the outlook isn't good for NHL 2K11. Take-Two proved itself willing to walk away from an unprofitable series after it canceled its College Hoops series in 2008. And given how strong EA's puck sims have been in recent years, there's likely not much of a near-term opportunity to increase NHL 2K's market share without a significant investment.

PlayStation | Final Fantasy VIII arises on PSN

Square Enix hasn't given gamers much of a heads-up about Final Fantasy VIII's arrival on the PlayStation Network. With initial word buried in a PlayStation newsletter earlier this week, the Japanese role-playing game is now available for both the PlayStation 3 and PSP as a PSone Classic for $9.99.

Elsewhere on the PlayStation Store for the PS3, Pieces Interactive has released Puzzlegeddon for $9.99. A matching puzzle game, Puzzlegeddon offers single- and multiplayer action, as gamers move tiles to form chains of like colors to deal damage to their opponents.

The PSP's downloadable library also sees a significant infusion of new content this week. With Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker now carrying a May 25 release date, Konami has added Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and the multiplayer-centric Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus to the PSP's online store for $14.99 and $9.99, respectively. MGS-enthused gamers can also pick up the Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel for $9.99 this week.

Hug her, you fool!

A trifecta of racing games heads to the PSP this week, as Sega Rally Revo ($15.99), F1 2009 ($39.99), and Ridge Racer ($14.99) are all now available. Lastly, Buzz! Quiz World, which lets gamers connect to the PS Store to download new quizzes and other content, is available for $19.99.

A full list of the week's new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, and add-on content, is available on the official PlayStation Blog.

PlayStation 3 | Final Fantasy XIII day-one sales hit 1 million in Japan

It almost went without saying that Final Fantasy XIII would be a massive success in Japan. Any doubts to that were squelched in April, when Square Enix released a short demo for the game in Japan for the PlayStation 3--the only console that Final Fantasy XIII is available for in the region--and system sales nearly quadrupled on a weekly basis, according to Media Create.

FFXIII sales are officially fast as Lightning.

With Final Fantasy XIII officially available on retail shelves in Japan yesterday, the game's selling potential has snapped clearly into focus. Citing internal figures, Square Enix announced today that the Japanese role-playing game has sold more than 1 million units in its first 24 hours. Square Enix noted that the figure does not include units sold as part of hardware bundles, such as the 250GB ceramic-white PS3 with a graphic of protagonist Lightning printed on the top.

Yesterday, Square Enix announced that it had shipped some 1.8 million units to Japanese retailers in advance of the game's launch. The publisher also noted that total worldwide franchise sales stand at 92 million units since the Final Fantasy brand first emerged in 1987. Of its most recent iteration, Square Enix has forecast total sales of 6 million units worldwide.

Final Fantasy XIII will be released for the Xbox 360 and PS3 in North America and Europe on March 9. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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Xbox 360 | 2K Sports benching NHL series?

Source: In a post to his Pastapadre site, former SportsGamer writer Brian Wiedey pointed out that Take-Two Interactive neglected to include NHL 2K11 on its 2010 release schedule.

What we heard: As Wiedey pointed out, Take-Two's fiscal fourth quarter report (released yesterday) has been the publisher's preferred opportunity to confirm new installments in its long-running ice hockey series.

NHL 2K10 cover athlete Alex Ovechkin, understandably furious, heartbroken, and/or surprised at rumors of the series' demise.

That alone might not raise eyebrows, as Take-Two's preliminary 2010 lineup is far from inclusive, consisting of only seven games. However, the publisher did specify that it would have MLB 2K11 and a new NBA 2K11 game next year, leaving NHL as the only annualized Take-Two sports franchise unaccounted for.

Dropping the NHL series would make some sense for Take-Two. 2K's games have been a distant second to EA's efforts this generation, both critically and commercially. And while the recent Wii edition of NHL 2K10 was warmly received by critics and vigorously supported with TV advertising, that hasn't significantly boosted sales over last year's edition. With the publisher's stated focus on AAA game development, a middling licensed franchise with a limited potential audience up against tough competition every year might be a tempting target for cost-cutting.

Take-Two also seems to be shying away from the need to compete with EA in the sports genre. It was the desire to compete that led the publisher's management team (a group since ousted) to shell out for third-party exclusivity on the Major League Baseball license, a move that executives said will cost Take-Two $30-35 million during its current fiscal year alone.

The official story: "We are currently in the process of evaluating our sports portfolio and have not announced any new NHL titles at this time."--A 2K Sports representative.

Bogus or not bogus?: Tentatively not bogus, but no matter how one slices it, the outlook isn't good for NHL 2K11. Take-Two proved itself willing to walk away from an unprofitable series after it canceled its College Hoops series in 2008. And given how strong EA's puck sims have been in recent years, there's likely not much of a near-term opportunity to increase NHL 2K's market share without a significant investment.

PSP | Final Fantasy VIII arises on PSN

Square Enix hasn't given gamers much of a heads-up about Final Fantasy VIII's arrival on the PlayStation Network. With initial word buried in a PlayStation newsletter earlier this week, the Japanese role-playing game is now available for both the PlayStation 3 and PSP as a PSone Classic for $9.99.

Elsewhere on the PlayStation Store for the PS3, Pieces Interactive has released Puzzlegeddon for $9.99. A matching puzzle game, Puzzlegeddon offers single- and multiplayer action, as gamers move tiles to form chains of like colors to deal damage to their opponents.

The PSP's downloadable library also sees a significant infusion of new content this week. With Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker now carrying a May 25 release date, Konami has added Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and the multiplayer-centric Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus to the PSP's online store for $14.99 and $9.99, respectively. MGS-enthused gamers can also pick up the Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel for $9.99 this week.

Hug her, you fool!

A trifecta of racing games heads to the PSP this week, as Sega Rally Revo ($15.99), F1 2009 ($39.99), and Ridge Racer ($14.99) are all now available. Lastly, Buzz! Quiz World, which lets gamers connect to the PS Store to download new quizzes and other content, is available for $19.99.

A full list of the week's new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, and add-on content, is available on the official PlayStation Blog.

Wii | Big in Japan Dec. 7-13: New Super Mario Bros.

Earlier this week, Japanese game-industry tracking firm Enterbrain reported that Nintendo's latest platformer New Super Mario Bros. Wii has continued to sell gangbusters into its second week. Fellow Japanese stat-tracker Media Create has subsequently affirmed that initial report, saying that New Super Mario Bros. Wii sold 431,198 units during the December 7-13 reporting period.

Mario doesn't even get out of bed for less than 10,000 gold coins.

Namco Bandai's Tales of Graces for the Wii scored the biggest debut of the week, selling 143,215 units. However, perhaps the most surprising debut was Infinity Ward's record-setting Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Though Western-developed titles (not to mention consoles) traditionally fare poorly in Japan, Modern Warfare 2 on the PlayStation 3 opened in fourth with 92,743 units. The final new top 10 debut, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3, finished in fifth with 75,596 units sold.

The remainder of Media Create's chart will have a familiar ring to it. Nintendo's perennial top performers Tomodachi Collection, Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver, and Wii Fit Plus all once again charted, as did PokePark Wii: Pikachu no Daibouken, which debuted the week before. Sega's Phantasy Star Portable 2 and Namco Bandai's Kidou Senshi Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam Next Plus also returned to Media Create's chart.

With two Wii games dominating the software chart, the console itself secured top billing on the hardware front. On the week, the Wii sold 135,898 units in Japan, easily beating out the PS3's 75,086 finish and the PSP's 71,885 tally. The DSi, DSi LL, and DS Lite followed with respective 68,184 units, 58,006 units, and 11,376 units sold. The Xbox 360 managed to crack the 10,000 marker, while the PSP Go sold 3,077 units and the PlayStation 2 shifted 2,463 machines.

JAPAN GAME SALES WEEK OF DEC. 7-DEC. 13, 2009
Software:
Rank / Title / Publisher / Platform / Unit sales
1) New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Nintendo / Wii / 431,198
2) Tales of Graces / Namco Bandai / Wii / 143,215
3) Tomodachi Collection / Nintendo / DS / 101,905
4) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 / Square Enix / PS3 / 92,743
5) Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 / Namco Bandai / PSP / 75,596
6) Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver / Nintendo / DS / 75,006
7) Phantasy Star Portable 2 / Sega / PSP / 74,203
8) Wii Fit Plus / Nintendo / Wii / 64,209
9) PokePark Wii: Pikachu no Daibouken / Nintendo / Wii / 57,410
10) Kidou Senshi Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam Next Plus / Namco Bandai / PSP / 56,596

Hardware:
Wii - 135,898
PS3 - 75,086
PSP - 71,885
DSi - 68,184
DSi LL - 58,006
DS Lite - 11,376
Xbox 360 - 10,646
PSP Go - 3,077
PS2 - 2,463

Wii | Billionaire buys up 11% of Take-Two

When a group of angry shareholders led by Strauss Zelnick overthrew the Take-Two board of directors and installed a new executive team with Zelnick as chairman in March 2007, the publisher's stock was trading for more than $21. Yesterday, Take-Two stock closed at $8.25, and some analysts suspect Zelnick might himself be the target of an investor uprising.

Carl Icahn now controls an 11 percent stake in Take-Two.

Yesterday, billionaire investor Carl Icahn revealed through SEC filings that his companies had acquired more than 11 percent of Take-Two shares in a series of purchases over the last two weeks. After Take-Two preannounced disappointing fourth quarter results after the close of trading on Thursday, December 3, the publisher's stock shed more than 30 percent of its value overnight. Starting the following Monday, Icahn and his partners made dozens of stock purchases (including call options) to obtain their current stake in Take-Two.

Some industry watchers have taken this as a sign that Icahn intends to force a sale or management overhaul of the company. Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter today released a note to investors saying, "We believe that Mr. Icahn intends to force the company to consider a sale." That was a sentiment ThinkEquity analyst Atul Bagga echoed to Reuters. However, Pachter noted that Zelnick and Icahn have a history that may come into play whatever the scenario.

"When Mr. Icahn became Blockbuster's biggest shareholder in 2004, he sought three board seats at that company and nominated himself and Mr. Zelnick for two of them," Pachter said. "Both remain on the Blockbuster board, and we are confident that they know each other well. We think that Mr. Icahn's significant stake in Take-Two will allow him access to Mr. Zelnick, and we expect to see increased interest in the stock as management responds to Mr. Icahn's suggestions about how to unlock value."

Icahn's SEC filing made no mention of further plans to increase his stake in Take-Two, but it did note he might "seek to have conversations with" representatives of the company.

The billionaire's reputation as an activist shareholder is so strong that his very involvement in a stock can boost its value. Icahn first took interest in Take-Two in August of 2006, with the acquisition of just over 1 percent of the company's stock for about $10.82 per share. After the news got out, Take-Two shares ended the next day's trading at $11.56.

Icahn's latest round of Take-Two share purchases seems to be having a similar effect. As of press time, the game company's shares are trading up more than 11 percent to $9.18.

Billionaire buys up 11% of Take-Two

When a group of angry shareholders led by Strauss Zelnick overthrew the Take-Two board of directors and installed a new executive team with Zelnick as chairman in March 2007, the publisher's stock was trading for more than $21. Yesterday, Take-Two stock closed at $8.25, and some analysts suspect Zelnick might himself be the target of an investor uprising.

Carl Icahn now controls an 11 percent stake in Take-Two.

Yesterday, billionaire investor Carl Icahn revealed through SEC filings that his companies had acquired more than 11 percent of Take-Two shares in a series of purchases over the last two weeks. After Take-Two preannounced disappointing fourth quarter results after the close of trading on Thursday, December 3, the publisher's stock shed more than 30 percent of its value overnight. Starting the following Monday, Icahn and his partners made dozens of stock purchases (including call options) to obtain their current stake in Take-Two.

Some industry watchers have taken this as a sign that Icahn intends to force a sale or management overhaul of the company. Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter today released a note to investors saying, "We believe that Mr. Icahn intends to force the company to consider a sale." That was a sentiment ThinkEquity analyst Atul Bagga echoed to Reuters. However, Pachter noted that Zelnick and Icahn have a history that may come into play whatever the scenario.

"When Mr. Icahn became Blockbuster's biggest shareholder in 2004, he sought three board seats at that company and nominated himself and Mr. Zelnick for two of them," Pachter said. "Both remain on the Blockbuster board, and we are confident that they know each other well. We think that Mr. Icahn's significant stake in Take-Two will allow him access to Mr. Zelnick, and we expect to see increased interest in the stock as management responds to Mr. Icahn's suggestions about how to unlock value."

Icahn's SEC filing made no mention of further plans to increase his stake in Take-Two, but it did note he might "seek to have conversations with" representatives of the company.

The billionaire's reputation as an activist shareholder is so strong that his very involvement in a stock can boost its value. Icahn first took interest in Take-Two in August of 2006, with the acquisition of just over 1 percent of the company's stock for about $10.82 per share. After the news got out, Take-Two shares ended the next day's trading at $11.56.

Icahn's latest round of Take-Two share purchases seems to be having a similar effect. As of press time, the game company's shares are trading up more than 11 percent to $9.18.

Xbox 360 | Final Fantasy day-one sales hit 1 million in Japan

It almost went without saying that Final Fantasy XIII would be a massive success in Japan. Any doubts to that were squelched in April, when Square Enix released a short demo for the game in Japan for the PlayStation 3--the only console that Final Fantasy XIII is available for in the region--and system sales nearly quadrupled on a weekly basis, according to Media Create.

FFXIII sales are officially fast as Lightning.

With Final Fantasy XIII officially available on retail shelves in Japan yesterday, the game's selling potential has snapped clearly into focus. Citing internal figures, Square Enix announced today that the Japanese role-playing game has sold more than 1 million units in its first 24 hours. Square Enix noted that the figure does not include units sold as part of hardware bundles, such as the 250GB ceramic-white PS3 with a graphic of protagonist Lightning printed on the top.

Yesterday, Square Enix announced that it had shipped some 1.8 million units to Japanese retailers in advance of the game's launch. The publisher also noted that total worldwide franchise sales stand at 92 million units since the Final Fantasy brand first emerged in 1987. Of its most recent iteration, Square Enix has forecast total sales of 6 million units worldwide.

Final Fantasy XIII will be released for the Xbox 360 and PS3 in North America and Europe on March 9. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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PC | Aliens vs. Predator unbanned in Australia

Sega and Rebellion's ratings saga for Aliens vs. Predator has come to a close on a positive note for gamers. Australia's Classification Review Board today reversed an earlier decision to ban the game, giving it an MA15+ rating with no content to be changed or removed.

Humans actually came out on top for this one.

The Rebellion-developed game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC was initially refused classification at the beginning of December for high-impact violence. The board's ruling report stated: "The game contains first-person perspective, close-up depictions of human characters being subjected to various types of violence, including explicit decapitation and dismemberment, as well as locational damage, such as stabbing through the chest, mouth, throat, or eyes."

Following the ban, developer Rebellion made a statement claiming it would not release a "sanitized or cut-down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices."

Sega appealed the initial Classification Board ruling and today was successful in getting the game past the Aussie censors, making it legal to sell down under upon its release.

"It is with great pleasure that we announce the success of our appeal," said Darren Macbeth, managing director of Sega Australia. "We are particularly proud that the game will be released in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed whatsoever. This is a big win for Australian gamers. We applaud the Classification Review Board on making a decision that clearly considers the context of the game and is in line with the modern expectations of reasonable Australians."

Aliens vs. Predator will be released in February 2010.

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PlayStation 3 | Aliens vs. Predator unbanned in Australia

The Classification Board of Australia's decision to ban Sega's upcoming Aliens vs Predator was reversed today by the Classification Review Board, who has given the game an MA15+ rating with no content to be changed or removed.

The Rebellion-developed title for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC was initially refused classification at the beginning of December for high-impact violence. The Board's ruling report claimed: "The game contains first-person perspective, close-up depictions of human characters being subjected to various types of violence, including explicit decapitation and dismemberment as well as locational damage such as stabbing through the chest, mouth, throat, or eyes."

Following the ban, developer Rebellion made a statement claiming it would not release a "sanitized or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices."

Sega appealed the initial Classification Board ruling and today were successful in getting the game past the Aussie censors, making it legal to sell down under upon its release.

"It is with great pleasure that we announce the success of our appeal. We are particularly proud that the game will be released in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed whatsoever. This is a big win for Australian gamers. We applaud the Classification Review Board on making a decision that clearly considers the context of the game, and is in line with the modern expectations of reasonable Australians," said Darren Macbeth, managing director of Sega Australia.

Aliens vs Predator will be released in February 2010.