Military Madness: Nectaris assaults PlayStation Network

Hudson Entertainment’s re-imagined classic turn-based strategy game, Military Madness: Nectaris, is now available on the PlayStation Network for $9.99. Based on the classic TurboGrafx-16 war game released in 1989, Military Madness is played out on a distinct hex grid, on which players take turns moving their units in an effort to win by destroying all enemy units or taking over the enemy headquarters. The new game features 3D graphics, online multiplayer mode, a brand-new customizable Commander unit, and more.

The game also features four-player online or local team and vs. multiplayer and multiplayer maps specifically designed to be balanced for 2, 3 or 4 players.

Find out more about the game by visiting www.MilitaryMadnessGame.com. The game is already availble on Xbox Live Arcade and Nintendo WiiWare.

Video game hardware, software sales mostly flat in Sept.

While some might applaud the new batch of sales numbers for the month of Sept., they show that the sector, like many others in the world during this still shaky financial times, is feeling the bite just like everyone else. It is hard to imagine what hardware numbers might look like if Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft hadn’t slashed the prices on their respective home console systems. Even with those price cuts, NPD data for the month showed a meager 1 percent gain over the same period a year ago, with total videogame related sales in the U.S. of around $1.28. Again, if not for cuts, it would have been more downward trending for the sector. Still it’s hard to ignore that compared to August, sales were up considerably in Sept.

On the hardware front, the one relevant console that did not get a price cut, the DS (which includes the DSi and DS Lite), was at the top of the heap moving over half a million units in the month. The good news for Sony - if there really is any in a month that was mostly flat - is that it managed to beat out the Wii and Xbox 360 in the month with 491,000 units. The Wii was close by with almost 463,000 units and the Xbox 360 managed to move nearly 353,000 units. The PSP moved right around 190,000 units in Sept., - which we assume includes both the old model and the new PSP go. Finally, the PS2 managed to move 146,000 units.

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UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves in stores

Sony Computer Entertainment America has released UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves for the PlayStation 3. The sequel to Naughty Dog’s hit Unchartered, UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves blends the art of cinema and action platformer and shooter action in an all new adventure involving Nathan Drake, big explosions, exploration, running and jumping, and good old fashioned spelunking (I might be bending the truth here, but you’ll figure that out after you buy the game, won’t you?). The game promises a story-driven single-player mode and competitive multiplayer and cooperative modes as well.

Be sure to check out Tom Chick’s excellent UNCHARTERED 2: Among Thieves Review for the real skinny on this first party title published by SCEA.

FIFA Interactive World Cup kicks off this week

FIFA, Electronic Arts and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced the new season of the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC), a season-long tournament mirroring the real world of soccer with competitors from all around the world participating in the EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 10 on PlayStation 3.

This year marks the sixth FIWC season, which will kick off today inside EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 10. Players will be able to compete for their spot in the Grand Final at one of 10 FIWC Live Qualifier Events across the globe, taking place in Australia, Brazil, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, South Africa and the UK, or by playing online.

For the first time in the tournament’s history, the online competition of the FIWC via PlayStation Network will be split into two seasons. Season one starts with the launch of FIFA Soccer 10 on October 2 in Europe and concludes on December 18, 2009. The ten best players of season one from across the FIFA confederations will go through to the Grand Final, which will take place at Port Olympic in Barcelona on May 1, 2010. Players who didn’t make it during season one have another shot at their spot in the Grand Final in season two, which kicks off on January 4, 2010 and concludes on March 31, 2010. Registration for participating in the online leg of the FIWC 10 tournament will take place directly inside the retail version of FIFA Soccer 10 on PS3 from October 2 across Europe and Asia and from October 20 in North America.

Fallout 3 Broken Steel DLC now on PSN

As promised, Bethesda Softworks’ first piece of Fallout 3 downloadable conent, Broken Steel. is now available for download on the PlayStation Store in North America for $9.99. The Fallout 3 DLC PS3 love will continue next week (October 1st), with the release of Operation: Anchorage and The Pitt. The week after (October 8th), Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta will be available - making PS3 owners all caught up with the Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game.

No more will those Xbox 360 and Windows be able to taunt PS3 owners in school yards, lunchrooms and worplace breakrooms anymore about not having access to all of Bethesda’s extra content for Fallout 3. Take that, Bob from accounting with your stupid bow tie and terrible haircut!

For more information about all the DLC, visit www.bethsoft.com.

Star Ocean The Last Hope: International a PS3 exclusive

Square Enix announced plans to publish Star Ocean The Last Hope: International for PlayStation 3 in the early months of 2010. This latest installment in the popular RPG franchise will ship simultaneously across the globe, and will be available in North America on February 9, 2010.

This prequel to the series is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and will offer six language options: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese. The latest game is being developed by Star Ocean series developers tri-Ace and promises spectacular visuals and a unique action RPG Players will now can control their own spaceship, moving from planet to planet as they explore the vastness of space in the order and manner in which they desire. Gameplay has also been refined but still offers the familiar four-person team-oriented combat and the ability to seamlessly switch between characters during battle. The game also improves upon the real-time battle system that has become a trademark of the series.

You can find out more about the game including story details, by visiting na.square-enix.com/starocean/.

Hardware sales for August 2009

While the PS3 and Xbox 360 are saw an uptick in hardware for the month of August in North America, Nintendo’s platforms continued to be at the top of the pack. The Nintendo Ds (DSi included) moved over half a million units in August, followed by its more expensive sibling moving a little over half of that in the month. The Xbox 360 beat out the PS3 in August but not by much (215K compared to 210K, respectively) and sales for Sony’s platform were up a staggering 300 percent according to NPD.

What will be interesting is the numbers for September. Will sales of the PS3 continue to climb? Will the Wii ever get knocked down below second place? Will Microsoft’s price cut strategy employed in August be enough to stop any momentum Sony has with the PS3? We’ll have to wait and see but these price cuts have certainly changed the dynamic for Sony. It’s hard to understand why it didn’t cut prices sooner.

August 2009 Hardware Sales:

Nintendo DS - 552.9K units

Wii - 277.4K units

Xbox 360 - 215.4K units

PlayStation 3 - 210.0K units

PSP - 140.3K units

PlayStation 2 - 105.9K units