Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers pre-order details

Pre-orders are now available for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, according to word from Square Enix this week. GameStop is offering $5.00 off the game at the time of purchase (details here), Amazon.com is giving a themed, limited edition 2010 calendar (details here), and Best Buy is offering an exclusive soundtrack sampler to its pre-order customers. (details here). Doesn’t seem all that exciting to me, but whatever makes your world spin around.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers ships in late Dec. for the Wii.

Yoostar reveals retail partners

Yoostar today announced that the Yoostar system will be available for purchase on August 24 at Bloomingdale’s stores nationwide, and at all Best Buy outlets starting September 8. Bloomingdale’s will be the only luxury department store to carry the product. The Yoostar system ($169.95 suggested retail price) was introduced at the opening keynote address of the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show.

The Yoostar entertainment system allows users to film themselves and insert it right into famous movie scenes, where you can perform with, or replace, the original actors. Users can follow the script or deliver their own interpretation of the movie, then upload their performances to www.yoostar.com and share them on their favorite social networking sites.

The Yoostar system includes a studio-grade web cam with built-in dual microphones and remote control, portable green screen, professional stand and Yoostar software that is compatible with both PC and Mac computers.

Find out more at Yoostar.com.

Invent a Game Challenge winner crowned

Dan Slutz, 17, of Canton, Ohio has been crowned the winner of the national “Invent a Game Challenge” and has won a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond. The contest, sponsored by EA, United Inventors Association, By Kids For Kids and retailer Best Buy, challenged would-be developers with creating a unique and exciting game property.

The winning entry was the 17 year old’s game idea, Rhythm, a music-based platform game where players battle evil forces utilizing various musical styles as weapons to advance, conquer and defeat their enemies. On Tuesday, Dan was honored at EA’s offices in Los Angeles, and received his grand prize, a $10,000 U.S. savings bond, in front of an audience of EA game developers.

“This is a dream come true!” said an excited Dan Slutz. “I am very serious about a career as a video game designer, and could not be more appreciative of this great opportunity. It will be a thrilling experience to see the world playing Rhythm.”

We look forward to Dan’s game becoming a reality.

New PS3 Bundles Include Killzone 2 and MGS 4

The PS3, as most of us are aware, hasn’t sold as well as expected and rumors of price drops have been circulating about it for quite some time, though mostly proven false. However, a new report from Kotaku might be just the clue we’ve all been looking for. Recently, Kotaku received an image from a Best Buy employee of a new PS3 bundle that will come with Killzone 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4 for $400 - the current price for a PS3 without a game.

Is this the beginning of the price cuts or is Best Buy trying to liquidate stock? Either way, this is a great deal for anyone who wants a PS3. The new PS3 bundle is, according to Kotaku,  going to hit the stores this Sunday.

THQ to publish CrimeCraft

THQ and Vogster Entertainment announced a publishing deal for the online action game, CrimeCraft. Scheduled to ship across North America in August 2009, this game will be available at retail exclusively at Best Buy stores and on www.bestbuy.com.

Gamers can begin pre-ordering CrimeCraft in stores on June 7 or online beginning May 31. Those who pre-order CrimeCraft via Best Buy retail stores or online will receive virtual in-game shoes from Ecko Unltd., created by fashion icon Marc Ecko, access to play the pre-release version of the game during beta, and three days’ head start at the game’s launch.

CrimeCraft is a persistent world, first-person shooter that blends action and community with role-playing elements found in massively multi-player games. CrimeCraft is set in a fictional city of the future, where gangs vie for rule of the street. Players can join thousands of players online, build a gang and do whatever it takes to survive. For more information on CrimeCraft, visit www.crimecraft.com.

Over 2000 Retailers Rolling Out Fallout 3 at Midnight

Bethesda Softworks announced this afternoon due to demand for Fallout 3, more than 2,000 retail stores across the country will open up starting at midnight on Wednesday for the debut of the apocalyptic RPG. Best Buy alone plans to have special midnight events at stores in the Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Dallas and Chicago metropolitan areas.

“Fallout 3 has been a labor of love for the team at Bethesda and we can’t wait to get the game into the hands of consumers,” said Todd Howard, Game Director at Bethesda Game Studios for Fallout 3. “We’re looking forward to celebrating the launch of Fallout 3 with the fans.”

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The Force Unleashed Launch Party

If you live in San Francisco and find yourself madly in love with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, then you might be interested to hear that Sony Computer Entertainment America, LucasArts and Best Buy are teaming up to deliver a launch event in the area.

The trio will commemorate the release of the upcoming videogame with an exclusive launch party, offering gamers a chance to get their hands on the first copies of the game.

The party, which will be held at the Best Buy store at 1717 Harrison St. in San Francisco on Monday, Sept. 15, will run from 7pm until midnight and will feature appearances by several very special guests including Sam Witwer (who plays Darth Vader’s Secret Apprentice in the game) Executive Producer Haden Blackman, Art Director Matt Omernick, Lead Engineer Cedrick Collomb, Lead Content Designer John Stafford, Lead Systems Designer Rich Davis, and dozens of other members of The Force Unleashed development team at LucasArts.

Attendees will also get a chance to play the full version of the game in advance and be able to get their photo taken with some of their favorite Star Wars characters.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will be released on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 later this month.