NEWS...

• New Tech Specs Details Surface [Xbox 360] - This new picture also reveals, for the first time, the transistor count for each part of the two-die design. The parent die has a total of 232 million transistors while the daughter die has 100 million, making the whole package a 330+ million transistor design. In comparison, an AMD Athlon 64 processor has approximately 205 M transistors while the PlayStation 3 Cell processor has ~234M and the RSX GPU designed by nVIDIA has some 300M.
• Final Fantasy XI Requires the HDD [Xbox 360]  - Like the PS2 and PC versions, Xbox 360 gamers will be able to play with players on all the active platforms. Xbox 360 gamers will also be able to use their existing PC accounts if they already play the Windows version. On the Xbox 360, you will need the HDD to play, so if you're looking forward to jumping into the online world of Final Fantasy, you should plan to buy an Xbox 360 premium system, or a core system and a separate hard drive.
• TimeShift does a 360  [Xbox 360]- Atari confirmed to Yahoo Video Games that PC/Xbox title Timeshift is coming to Xbox 360 as well. The PC version is now due in spring 2006 alongside the Xbox 360 version, and the Xbox version is now due in Summer 2006.
• $59.99 Halo Triple Pack to arrive for Xbox on October 4th [Xbox]-  I suppose it was only a matter of time before Microsoft offered both Halo games and the multiplayer map pack in one package, especially with the launch of the Xbox 360 only a few months away.
• Burnout Revenge Sountrack Revealed [Xbox] - Blowing the doors of the Burnout Revenge soundtrack are songs from a huge variety of artists including big name acts The Chemical Brothers, Fall Out Boy, Thrice, The Bravery and BT's unique remix of 'Break On Through (To The Other Side)' from the legendary band, The Doors.
• Driver: Parallel Lines (Driver 4) Details [multi] - The title is called Driver: Parallel Lines and takes a trip back in time to explore some extreme driving in New York City in the 70s. There's more traffic, better AI, and some more details, but the key point here is that the focus is once again back on the driving as well as taking all this noise online. There will be no boats and the on-foot sections have been reduced. All this is promised for a March 2006 release in Europe. In related news,  Hungarian website Gamekapocs.hu has two new scans from some German magazine..
• Big Mutha Truckers 2 Rolls into Retail [PS2/Xbox]- THQ sent out word Tuesday that Big Mutha Truckers 2 is now shipping for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
• Urban Reign Goes Gold [PS2] - Namco Hometek announced that Urban Reign has gone gold for the PlayStation 2!
• The Warriors Website Launched  [PS2/Xbox] - Rockstar Games today fully launched the official website for upcoming title, The Warriors. Based around the 1979 film from Paramount Pictures of the same name, the game's official website includes game information, screenshots and trailers. The Warriors will ship during October 2005 across the Xbox and PlayStation 2.
• Still no sign of PSP firmware update [PSP] - The much anticipated release of the PlayStation Portable v2.0 Firmware update in North America was delayed until "the week of the 15th of August", and here we are in the week of the 23nd and still no sign. UPDATE: It's out and you can get it here.
• Sony to juice up PSPs with mouse, Flash, more? [PSP] - Sony's developers are considering adding Macromedia Flash support for PSP's Web browser in the future, as well as expanding Javascript functions. Kawanishi explained they need to determine Flash's performances on the PSP before coming to a conclusion.
• Nintendo delays numerous games - Gamespot is reporting that Nintendo has pushed back many of it's upcoming games, some by a month or more. Among the titles listed are Metroid Prime: Hunters (DS), Animal Crossing DS, and Mario Kart DS.
• Mario & Luigi Sequel Recieves Official Title [NDS] - Nintendo has revealed the official title to the upcoming Nintendo DS sequel to 2003's Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. The dual-screen follow-up will be called Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. The game will be released on November 28th.
• Xbox 360 Dev Kit Photo - In the picture, you'll see the Xbox 360 in a black enclosure and a little adenum on the far right that is part of the XeDK for debuggin purposes but won't be present in the retail Xbox 360.
• Messiah: The Savior of Retrogaming? - This year Messiah returned to Classic Gaming Expo with an even more ambitious product: its own NES clone. Dubbed the Generation NEX, this custom-designed console has slots to accept both American NES and Japanese Famicom games. It has stereo A/V out, (redesigned) wireless controllers, and an extremely small, sleek form factor that recalls the design of the classic NES but with a pleasantly modern touch.

REVIEWS

• PS2: Colosseum: Road to Freedom / Darkwatch (7.6) / Delta Force: Black Hawk Down (6.7/10) /Delta Force: Blackhawk Down  / EyeToy: Play 2 (77%) / Gundam Vs Zeta Gundam (6.5/10) / Madden NFL 06 (5/5) / Psychonauts (4/5) / Romance of the Three Kingdoms X / The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (8.2) / The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (4.5/5)

• Xbox: Delta Force: Black Hawk Down (6.2/10) / King of Fighters: Maximum Impact / Madden NFL 06 / NCAA Football 06 (9.1) / The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (8.2) / The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction  (9/10)
• Gamecube: Geist (6/10) / Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue (7/10) / Medal of Honor: European Assault (7.1/10) / Sonic Gems Collection (7.5) / The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (8.2) / The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (8.4)
• PSP: Ridge Racer (9/10)
• NDS: Madden NFL 06 (7.4/10) / Nintendogs: Chihuahua and Friends (9.1) / Nintendogs: Dachshund and Friends (9.1) / Nintendogs: Labrador and Friends (9.1) / Pac 'n Roll (7.1/10)
• GBA: Advance Wars: Dual Strike (9.2) 

PREVIEWS

• Dig Dug Digging Strike (NDS) - Utilizing double screen action, this all-new 3D adventure introduces wireless co-op play along with the standard single-player mode and features new enemies, weapons, and environments--the works!
• Full Auto Q&A [Xbox 360] - Gamecloud has posted an interview with Cord Smith of Pseudo Interactive as he talks about their upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive car combat game Full Auto.
• Ghost Rider [Xbox] - Though it promises to offer deep combo-based combat and lighting-fast motorcycle action, the real highlight here is the story, penned by renowned comic writers Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti.
• Karaoke Revolution Party [PS2] - If you've played DDR (any version) and Karaoke Revolution - then you know this game already. There are a couple additional modes to keep the party going - including one in which you, and another mate, must save the on-screen stage-divers from a Bobby Brown, 'Your Perogative' style faceplant.
• Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks [PS2/Xbox] - Shaolin Monks is a scrolling beat 'em up in the most traditional of senses. Players enter a room, which fills up with enemies, who then get the living hell knocked out of them. Rinse and repeat several screens over, add a few platforming sections and an end of level boss, and you've got the recipe for a fairly formulaic fighter.
• Need for Speed Most Wanted [PSP] - Most Wanted will mirror its console cousin's new themes, although it will go about things a bit differently. The career mode will feature new event types and a unique game of chance that bold players can try. Once you make it through a section, you can opt to "double-down" by betting everything on the outcome of a single race. If you win, you can double your earnings. But if you lose, you're hosed.
• Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse [Xbox] - We had the chance to try out the post-zombie-invasion Punchbowl level and were pleased by how the game handled. Stubbs was surprisingly responsive and spry for an undead creature. Using his detachable hand to possess enemies or to pitch his head for bowling down foes handled well...GameSpot has also posted Stubbs the Zombie developer interview.

MEDIA... 

• Brothers in Arms: Earned In Blood (PS2/Xbox/PC) Screens & Trailer - Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood (shots / trailer) builds upon the elements that have made Brothers in Arms Road to Hill 30 a success by adding new features and game modes. Featuring a new single-player narrative, new multiplayer missions, an all-new cooperative-style game mode, and new weapons and vehicles, Brothers In Arms Earned In Blood promises to lead the way this holiday season.
• Ikusa Gami shots [PS2] - Genki will release a new PS2 action game called Ikusa Gami in Japan on November 24, for 7140. The game features up to 65536 characters in each stage, and it is possible to achieve 10000 hit combos.
• Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes shots [Xbox] - Here are some new images of Microsoft / Phantagram's Xbox action strategy game Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes, the game will be released on September 20.
• Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence [PS2] - Here are some new images of Konami's Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, the game will be released in November 2005.
• Project Gotham Racing 3 shots [Xbox 360] - Here are some new images of Microsoft / Bizarre Creations' Xbox 360 launch title Project Gotham Racing 3, the game will be released in November 2005.
• Tokyo Bus Guide 2 shots [PS2] - Here are some new images of Success' PS2 bus driving simulation game Tokyo Bus Guide 2.
• Tomb Raider Legend [Xbox 360] -  Here are some new images of Eidos' Xbox 360 Tomb Raider Legend, the game will be released in early 2006.
• Top Spin 2 [Xbox 360] - Here are some new images of 2K Sports' Xbox 360 tennis game Top Spin 2, the game will be released in 2006.
• Wanda & the Colossus (Shadow of the Colossus) shots [PS2] - Here are some new images of Sony's PS2 action adventure game Wanda & the Colossus (Shadow of the Colossus), the game will be released in Japan on October 27.
• World Soccer Winning Eleven 9: Ubiquitous Evolution [PSP] - Here are some new images of Konami's PSP sports game World Soccer Winning Eleven 9: Ubiquitous Evolution (aka Pro Evolution Soccer 5).