Continue reading for the top rated games of 2007 as determined by the readers of Famitsu. You might be surprised as to which game came out on top. The password is origami.

20. Trusty Bell (360) - 8.71 [8.75]
18. Kousoku Card Battle Card Hero (NDS) - 8.73 [9.00]
18. Pachi Para 14 (PS2) - 8.73 [7.00]
17. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 (PS2) - 8.74 [8.50]
16. Chocobo Fushigi na Dungeon (Wii) - 8.76 [8.25]
15. Yusha no Kuse ni Namaiki da (PSP) - 8.80 [8.50]
14. Wish Room Tenshi no Kioku (NDS) - 8.82 [8.25]
13. Gyakuten Saiban 4 (NDS) - 8.83 [9.00]
12. Forza Motor Sports 2 (360) - 8.85 [9.00]
11. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - 8.92 [9.5]
10. The Elder Scrolls IV (360) - 8.93 [9.5]
9. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (PSP) - 8.95 [8.5]
8. Jikkyou Power Pro Yakyuu Wii (Wii) - 8.99 [8.5]
7. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas (PS2) - 9.04 [9.5]
4. Minna no Golf Portable 2 (PSP) - 9.07 [9.25]
4. Zelda no Densetsu Phantom Hourglass (NDS) - 9.07 [9.75]
4. Gears of War (360) - 9.07 [9.25]
3. God of War 2 (PS2) - 9.13 [9.25]
1. Kingdom Heart 2 Final Mix + (PS2) - 9.17 [N/A]
1. Super Paper Mario (Wii) - 9.17 [8.75]

Surprisingly, Super Paper Mario beat out the critically acclaimed Super Mario Galaxy. As for the Xbox 360, while it gets no love from Japanese consumers, Famitsu readers appear to love their Xbox games with four titles landing in the top 20. Meanwhile, although the Wii-haters like to complain about the so-called dearth of quality titles on the Wii, the Nintendo console also scored four titles in the top 20. As for the PS3? Virtual Fighter 5 ranked in at 25th with a reader score of 8.63.

Other notables:

21. No More Heroes (Wii) - 8.69 [8.5]
27. Halo 3 (360) - 8.60 [9.25]
30. Call of Duty 4 (PS3) - 8.57 [9.25]
32. The World Ends With You (NDS) - 8.55 [8.75]
43. Idol Master (360) - 8.42 [6.50]
46. Assassin's Creed (360) - 8.39 [9.00]
54. Taiko no Tatsujin DS (NDS) - 8.27 [8.25]
58. Game Center CX (NDS) - 8.22 [8.25]
76. Dragon Quest Swords (Wii) - 8.07 [8.25]
77. Ouendan 2 (NDS) - 8.06 [8.5]

And his marketing genius has not gone without notice. If it works for insurance, it's gotta work for videogames, right? Farewell George Harrison (not the Beattle but the former VP of marketing at Nintendo), say hello to every-man Vern Fonk. Just another nail in Sony's coffin.

Continue reading for some more Vern Fonk classics that are sure to be turned into Nintendo commercials for upcoming releases.

Everyone's Makin' Videogames. Why Not You?

Click on the image to enlarge.

After Elder Taragan swept the final table at Jet City Retro, taking home 1 of 10 ultra-rare uncut sheets of Dev Kit cards, some of the Dev Kit Developers League regulars were no doubt in search of a rematch! The league continues to grow as more and more developers come and try their skills and the league's hardcore players adapt to different styles. At Jet City Retro a new zone was discovered, but it required more research by the Elders before it could be made public! The newly discovered Steve Zone is where a player stumbles to the edge of the Joe Zone, just avoiding a near fatal fall into its abyss and manages to score 15 points or under in a great game of Dev Kit. The Steve Zone is much more frequent than the Joe Zone, but in league play can be just as bad for a players overall margin!

The absence of Dev Kit Celebrity, Joe Zone Joe, was a bit troublesome to the Elders as he may have fallen beyond the great reach of the Elders and may need more help than they can provide. Joe Zone Joe has been missing for the entire length of the PG Dev Kit Developers League so any information is still greatly needed more than ever on his whereabouts! Please contact the Elders with any info immediately, Joe’s fate rests in your hands! As the next meeting grows near, there are many questions to be answered; will Joe Zone Joe be found still alive after such a long absence? Who will fall into the grasp of the Steve Zone and have their margin suffer? The answers to these questions and more await the next Dev Kit Developers League meeting to be found out.

Make sure to spread the word about the PG Dev Kit Developers League to everyone you know! As the League grows the competition will get intense as more and more developers share their skills and strategies with some of the leagues hardcore players. Check out the new official rules for PG Dev Kit Developers League and make sure to follow them closely! Make sure to explain all the rules (including the updated rules for some of the cards) and try to help clear up some of those pesky Dev Kit myths! Make sure to check out the next Pink Godzilla Dev Kit Developer's League on Sunday, May 18th at Blue Highway Games. Feel free to drop by and play a few games with the Elders and compete against the Leagues best players. Much heated battles are no doubt to ensue as the league grows so stay tuned to keep up to date with the Pink Godzilla Dev Kit Developer's League. Feel free to catch up on all the past Dev Kit Developers League news from each round here on the PG blog:

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #1

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #2

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #3

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #4

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #5: Jet City Retro

At least six playable characters and seven new stages will make up the main mission in this all-new sequel. There will also be a “Combat School” mode that will provide over 80 different training exercise and specific objectives selectable via a touch-screen map. This is sure to keep even the most die-hard of Metal Slug players happy for a long time to come.

Meanwhile, Samurai Spirits (known as Samurai Showdown here in the U.S.) will be returning to home consoles this July 24th. Unlike Metal Slug 7, Samurai Spirits: Rokuban Shoubu is an anthology of the classic Neo-Geo titles rather than a direct sequel.

Rokuban Shoubu (available for the Wii and Playstation 2) will collect all six 2D Samurai Spirits titles to form the ultimate anthology of 2D weapons fighting action to be found anywhere on earth! Both versions will feature an all-new “character edit” mode, though details on the exact nature and extent of the character customization process are still sparse.

It has also been confirmed that the Playstation 2 version will support online battles via the network adapter. The Wii version meanwhile has been confirmed to feature specific Wii-mote based motion controls for fighting and sword swinging.

So, to recap:
(7/17) Metal Slug 7 – (Exclusive Nintendo DS Release)
(7/24) Samurai Spirits: Rokuban Shoubu – (Wii and Playstation 2 Release)

Both Samurai Spirits versions will be disc based. All three games are currently set to retail in Japan for ¥5040, though that price is subject to change.

[Metal Slug Official Site]
[Samurai Spirits Official Site]

(Screenshots courtesy of Famitsu)

1. The first thing about Dev Kit League is that you will talk about Dev Kit League
2. The second thing about Dev Kit League is that YOU WILL talk about Dev Kit League (It’s that awesome)
3. If someone completes 4 games the match is over
4. 3 people to a match
5. Several matches at a time
6. No Goombas, No Prinnies
7. Matches will go on as long as they have to
8. If this is your first time at Dev Kit League, you should play (It’s fun).

Join the Pink Godzilla Dev Kit Developers League every 1st and 3rd Sunday each month at Blue Highway Games in Queen Ave from 2-5pm!

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #1

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #2

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #3

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #4

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #5: Jet City Retro

Or you can simply start teaching yourself Japanese. As if Dev Kit wasn't enough, here's even more incentive to learn Japanese.

Nande Indian ya nen!

To check out more awesome, visit miko35's flickr site here.

Everyone's Makin' Videogames. Why Not You?

Click on the image to enlarge.

The PG Dev Kit Tournament at Jet City Retro started as any other, the developers arrived slowly and played a few games to warm up while waiting for the tourney to begin. The tourney continued as groups of three were chosen at random and games began to go gold. The first round was played and the developers were shuffled into new groups to start all over again, continuing on in the fight to the final table. After some close calls and a few surprises, the final table was set and the last three developers started their epic game. The last developers standing were all Dev Kit League regulars, PG's own Elder Taragan, Steve Moos, and Donald Tidd. Check out the picture below to see the serious faces of the final table of developers and find out who took home an uncut sheet of Dev Kit cards!

Elder Taragan, Steve and Donald prepare to start the game that will decide who takes home 1 of only 10 uncut sheets of Dev Kit cards!

The first game started as the 3 developers begin to throw around some friendly insults in the name of good fun, to keep the atmosphere calm. The game shifted slightly more serious as games went gold and points were tallied, while each developer tried to edge out a crucial first victory. The game came to a close as Elder Taragan drew first blood and firmly secured his place as one of the Leagues best players! Steve and Donald show no remorse as the second game is started, each trying to stop Elder Taragan from wining the game and the tourney. The atmosphere turns in Elder Taragan's favor as he seems to almost draw the cards he needs on to the table during his turns.

The event turns serious as the second game starts, all three players concentrate on the game at hand.

As the second game came to a close, the winner is clearly Elder Taragan! Having swept the final table with 2 wins in a row, he has shown his ability to outplay even the best the league has to offer. Steve and Donald shared second place, still holding their heads high having defeated a lot of Dev Kit League regulars to get to the final table. As the tourney came to its official end, Elder Taragan was presented with 1 of 10 uncut sheets of Dev Kit cards and proudly displayed them with the score sheets from the match. As Jet City Retro came to an end, all the developers had a wonderful time playing lots of Dev Kit and saw a lot of great classic games as well. The uncut sheet of Dev Kit cards was safely returned to the vault inside PG Seattle, where the Elders will continue to keep it secure until the next time it may be up for grabs. With the prize for winning the Dev Kit Developers League finals still to be announced, anything is possible.

That's one happy Elder Taragan!

Make sure to check out the next Pink Godzilla Dev Kit Developer's League on Sunday, May 4th at Blue Highway Games. Feel free to drop by and play a few games with the Elders and compete against the Leagues best players. Much heated battles are no doubt to ensue as the league grows so stay tuned to keep up to date with the Pink Godzilla Dev Kit Developer's League. Don't forget to check out Flickr for more pics from the special Dev Kit tourney and Jet City Retro! Feel free to catch up on all the past Dev Kit Developers League news from each round here on the PG blog:

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #1

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #2

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #3

Dev Kit Developers' League Update #4

Put on your sneaking suit and hit the jump for a hands-on preview.

Taking a page from Call of Duty 4, each MGO soldier has four skill slots that can be filled on the fly in-between gameplay rounds. Once equipped, skill cards increase your soldier’s abilities in different areas such as, mastery of various weapon types, movement speed, or close quarters combat (CQC). Each skill card, as well as your soldier on a whole, utilizes a level-up system.

Before each battle (and every time you re-spawn), you must equip three weapon slots for your character. Only one weapon may be selected per category. Standard carries include your stun knife, cardboard box, and scope. Customizable categories are Primary Weapon (rifle types), Secondary Weapon (handguns), and Support Weapon (grenade types).

Controls

Gone are the days of using the circle button to confirm settings (crazy Japanese!). MGO sports a more “westernized” (X button) control scheme that is immediately accessible to both series veterans and fans of FPS games. MGO also waves goodbye to fixed angles with a new fully adjustable camera controllable via the right analog stick.

Another new addition is the now context-sensitive triangle button. No longer does your character automatically press up against any wall or surface with which he comes into contact. Now, players must manually press the triangle button when prompted to use cover, sneak along a wall, or climb up a ladder.

Finally, there are three different aiming modes present in the game to cater to all varieties of players: Auto aim for beginners, the default “over the shoulder” 3rd person aiming reticule, and first-person view.

Game Modes and Maps

Game modes include standard online staples, such as deathmatch (both free-for-all and team based) as well as modes that are similar to capture the flag and capture enemy bases. All modes support up to 16 players.

A neat inclusion to the game modes is the Drebin Points (DP) system. When DP are enabled, each weapon costs points to use. As your round score increases, so do your DP, allowing you to unlock new custom weapons for use. The reverse is also true, meaning that excessive deaths will decrease your total points and cut your weapon options for future rounds.

Impressions

As a third-person action game, MGO largely succeeds in supplying an addictive and fun multiplayer experience that feels rooted in the modern tradition of action games, while still staying uniquely Metal Gear.

In what other online game can you hide in a cardboard box, emerge behind an unsuspecting foe, choke him out with a sleeper hold, and then shoot their unconscious body in the head to score a kill?

However, for every Solid Snake worthy moment like this, there are countless others where the gameplay simply devolves into run-and-gun shooting. Oftentimes, when neck-deep in a timed deathmatch, you’ll opt to empty an entire clip into your enemy over patiently waiting inside a cardboard box. It is only during situations like this, when ones tries to play MGO like a FPS, that some of the game’s shortcomings emerge.

The first note of surprise is the game’s overall speed. My first hour with MGO was spent searching for a “run” button, as both the character movement and aiming sensitivity (even when turned up to the maximum) seems decidedly slow when compared to modern shooters.
Also, an imbalance in weapon strength and abundant health makes characters surprisingly robust in MGO. While headshots yield instantaneous kills, I’ve unloaded five shotgun blasts at point blank range without putting a dent in an enemy’s health bar.

Finally the CQC, while great in theory, needs more refined collision detection. In general, both the gun fighting and hand-to-hand combat begins to suffer as players move closer together. This is particularly apparent with CQC, where attacks will routinely miss if two soldiers are not lined up exactly face-to-face. The result is a comical ballet of jittering soldiers and manly grunts.

However, this is a Beta product and all of these concerns can be addressed before the final version ships. The good news is that the Beta has been running at a stable frame rate with little lag. While some server connection issues persist, it is generally very quick to log into a server and select game matches. There is also little loading time before and in-between rounds.

Likewise, the graphics and sound are both up to par with today’s top online games. MGO runs in certified Dolby Digital and the sound effects in particular are very well done. There are also some nice high-resolution textures and the animation is consistently fluid. MGO runs at full 1080P and has some great visual touches. One such effect covers the camera in a thin film of dirt when an explosive goes off in your vicinity. It is touches like these that keep MGO looking and sounding neck-in-neck with the competition!

All things considered, MGO is an incredibly addictive and fun multiplayer experience. There are certainly some technical issues that could stand adjustment (such as movement speed and CQC collision detection), but this is a Beta after all. Overall, the blend of sneaking and stealth, mixed with traditional run and gun action is undeniably appealing, and the Beta has only added to my excitement for the full release this June.

Till then, happy sneaking everyone!

[Konami's Metal Gear Online site]

Hit the jump for the exclusive report!

Be thankful that only the top half of Tron Guy watermark made its way onto the box art for Marky Mark: Make my Video!

But what if Tron Guy is not graffiti but the actual perp, leaving his Tronny “mark” on Marky Mark in the same vain that Zoro might emblazon a “Z” on his foe. But before any search warrants might issue, the PG investigators would need more evidence.

Tron Guy is the gift that keeps on giving.

Buried in the bargain bin at PG Seattle, the PGI were shocked to find the mark of the watermark bandit in the unlikeliest of all places - a boxed copy of Superman 64 . But peering out from below the N64 logo was not Tron Guy, but Crash Bandicoot. Rather than provide answers, this newest piece of evidence only created more questions for the PGI. Superman 64 is considered by some to be, the uh, worst game ever made. So why would the watermark bandit regress from marking Marky Mark: Make my Video, an instant classic, to the bottom of the trash heap of craptacular games such as E.T. (Atari), White Men Can’t Jump (Jaguar), Aquaman (GC) and Elf Bowling (NDS). This proved one thing. No matter the quality, no game was safe from the watermark bandit. With Tron Guy’s name in the clear, as clear as his moose knuckle, the PGI followed other leads. The prevailing theory was that Sony had a hand in this scandal. After all, both the Sega CD and the N64 were direct competitors to the Sony Playstation. Did Sony dispatch its unofficial mascot, Crash Bandicoot, to disrupt the code of every copy of Superman 64, rendering the game horrible! Or did the developers really believe that flying through rings to save the world might be considered entertainment. The latter is just too fantastical to be true.

But if Sony was the watermark bandit, why did the company use Tron Guy for one mark but Crash Bandicoot for the other. Something just didn’t add up, so the PGI continued the investigation for more definitive clues.

The third and final game inflicted with the mark discovered by the PGI was discovered in the most unlikely of places, Elder Goban’s hermetically sealed humidor. The victim? Elder Goban’s precious Segata Sanshiro Shinken Yugi. Below Segata’s clenched fist was none other than Segata’s mortal enemy, Mario Mario. Marky Mark, Superman 64 and Segata Sanshiro? What was the connection? If not the Noid, Tron Guy or Sony, then who? Just then, the icy grip of the Joe Zone hit Elder Goban like a Lucas up smash.

The PGI’s own Elder Goban, himself, was the connection. The watermark bandit had vandalized all of Elder Goban’s favorite games. But who could be so callous as to desecrate Elder Goban’s holy trinity of gaming goodness? One name and one name only came to mind….Princess Peach. The message was as clear as Tron Guy’s moose knuckle - end the tabloid investigation of the Mushroom Kingdom, or face the extermination of his precious.

Of course, identifying the perpetrator is only the first step. The real challenge is the arrest and extradition. The PGI must infiltrate Peach's castle and apprehend her royal pinkness who is sure to be surrounded by Toads of all colors. This sounds like a job for the Pinky G Team Ninja Suppressors.

Tron Guy, Crash and Mario…all simpleton goons of Princess Peach? Clearly, her royal pinkness was even more powerful than even Elder Goban had realized. What will Elder Goban do? Will he sacrifice himself for the sake of justice in uncovering the truth about Princess Peach and the Mushroom Kingdom? Or will he succumb to fear and abandon his investigation? Will the Pinky G Team Ninja Suppressors succeed in their mission to capture the Princess? Or is this all a ruse - a meticulously planned trap for the capturee to turn the tables and capture the capturors. Has Peach set her sights on universal domination with her next target being the peaceful Bloknauts of Blok-jima? Will the fate of the Bloknauts fall into the pixelated hands of Jumpman? Will Pink Godzilla fall in love with Princess Peach, creating history's first lizard-human love triangle? What is Pixel's favorite color?

So many questions. So little time to uncover the answers. To be continued.

Sunday - Dev Kit Tournament
Starting at 12pm, we will be holding a Dev Kit tournament. Entry is free and results count towards the official Dev Kit league. Winner receives an uncut sheet of PG Dev Kit cards (1 of only 10 in existence) and a $25 gift certificate to the store.

About Jet City Retro:
Northwest Classic Games Enthusiasts is proud to present Jet City Retro 2008! For 11 years NWCGE has been the primary group for local classic video game collectors, hobbyists and enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest, connecting buyers and sellers every year at our annual expo. This year's event is the first to be held in Seattle, and is our largest event yet.

Location, Location, Location
Held in the Hotel Deca on Saturday April 26 and Sunday April 27, Jet City Retro is 2 blocks from the University of Washington, and 1 block from "The Ave", the University District's social and shopping hub featuring restaurants, movie theaters, and retail establishments. It is a vibrant hub for the college crowd, and it is steps from the Hotel Deca's front doors.

Vendor's Hall
NWCGE has always been about it's vendors. Creating the perfect location for classic gamers to buy sell and trade, NWCGE's vendors are fellow collectors and gamers stocked with everything from the most common favorites to rare, one-of-a-kind items and imports. This opportunity to buy classic games comes only once a year!

Expanded Content
This year's show has added a classic console freeplay room and exhibition room. The Classic Console freeplay room is a place where you can play any game from our library of titles for free! Our expanded library includes games for the NES, Atari 2600, Super NES, Genesis, and more! All available for free to attendees!

Our exhibition room will house a rock band stage, tournaments, or the NES championship, or other content that requires a dedicated space.

More details available at the Jet City Retro Home.

Busted. Ending the game merely requires the completion of four games. The genre of the completed games is irrelevant. You can make four RPG's if you'd like. As soon as a developer completes four video games, the game is over.

Myth #2: If one player has zero cards in his hand, then you may not call an auction during your Purchase Phase.

Busted. This myth apparently developed from section (c)(2) of the rules, which states "Each Developer must put one or more cards face down on the table under his/her hand." The fact that a rival developer imprudently spent all the cards from their hand does not somehow void your right to call an auction during your Purchase Phase. In fact, now would be a good time to call an auction as you are certain to outbid one of your opponents.

Myth #3: If you have HIred Guns in play and you discard Holiday Rush, you may play seven cards on your turn.

Busted. Six means six. Holiday Rush allows you to play a total of six cards on one turn, no exceptions. Playing more than six cards requires playing Holiday Rush and the Good Guardian to take back Holiday Rush to play it a second time for a total of eleven cards played on one turn.

Myth #4: If nobody bids on an auction, the developer who called the auction, wins the auction.

Busted. A no bid is the equivalent of not participating in an auction. If you don't participate, you can't win. Refer to section 2.4 of the FAQ. This same rule applies even if you have The Sniper in play and you draw a 2 on a three card auction.

Myth #5: You may play a Wild Card on a game in development that already has both required gear in play.

Busted. The description for Wild Cards clearly states that they are played in place of Required Gear Cards not in addition to. Adding a WIld Card that already has a Potion and a Vehicle would be the same as adding a second Potion or a second Vehicle, which is a no go.

Myth #6: When you play Hired Guns, you can't play a third card on the same turn.

Busted. Hired Guns takes effect immediately, so you can play three cards on the same turn you play Hired Guns.

Myth #7: After the game ends and Extra Lives takes effect you can receive payment cards and Clone bonus cards for games completed during Extra Lives.

Busted. Extra Lives is essentially an extended Development Phase. You receive no payment or Clone bonus cards for completing games during Extra Lives. Of course, be sure to collect any Clone bonus cards due to you prior to the commencement of Extra Lives. They could come in handy.

For use with the PSP camera attachment, this Japan-only release lets up to five separate users take photos of and digitally categorize their entire wardrobes. Recording an item is as easy as snapping a picture and filing said item under its respective category, such as “blouse” or “skirt.” The sheer lack of categories labeled “muscle T’s” or “tear-away pants” leads one to the conclusion that this software is primarily targeted towards female consumers.

Once a sufficient number of clothing items have been recorded, MyStylist can sort your entire wardrobe based on style or color, or give recommendations for what is truly appropriate spring attire. Seasonally oblivious year-round jeans or khaki shorts wearers BEWARE; MyStylist has got your number!

The program’s cornerstone feature is that it mixes and matches from your stored items to simulate different outfits and looks on a homely, virtual mannequin. If the forecast calls for rain, merely click a button and your mannequin will be outfitted with the appropriate umbrella, galoshes and Totoro poncho from your closet. If it’s a hot Friday night date, MyStylist recommends that your skin-showing black V-neck will increase the possibility of date number two.

Thanks to an internal calendar, the software stores what outfit was worn on what date, as well as the frequency with which you sport certain style combinations. This feature ensures that one will never be caught in the mortifying situation of wearing the same black V-neck for date number two with Mr. Dreamy.

When you’ve exhausted all of your new possible styles, MyStylist will recommend that you go shopping to update your wardrobe. After all, MyStylist encourages its users to only wear the newest and most expensive fashion trends straight from Paris. Using built-in color matching technology, the software can tell what colors you look best in based on your skin type and hair color, so you can purchase accordingly.

Finally, MyStylist encourages you to have an intimate relationship with your fashion. The diary feature completes the software experience, allowing you to insert pictures of the day’s outfit, while writing a memo to reflect on your real life fashion successes.

“Dear diary…Today was the best day EVER! I met up with Mr. Dreamy for Sunday brunch. He complimented the coordination between my burgundy pea coat and the hints of red found on my shoe buckles. Thanks MyStylist!”
MyStylist is currently on-sale in Japan and retails for ¥6980 (this package includes the PSP camera and a camera case). A pre-release survey conducted in Japan reported that over 70% of the female users who sampled the software found MyStylist to be a useful addition to their morning routine. If the results of this survey are anything to go on, here’s hoping that Sony will capitalize on what seems to be a really unique social software concept and release MyStylist stateside.

In the meantime, I need to get back to prearranging all my pairs of gray sweatpants for easy photographing later.

[Playstation’s Tokyo game show website]

Everyone's Makin' Videogames. Why Not You?

Click on the image to enlarge.

The League continues to grow as more and more developers come and try their skills and the league's hardcore players adapt to different styles. The latest meeting brought a heated two hour overtime period in a cafe across the street and many games were played as the battle raged on. The latest meeting also brought some interesting Resource Rows and a few players stumbled to the edge of the Joe Zone, just avoiding a near fatal fall into its abyss, including a 12 point game from PG's own Elder Taragan. The meeting also brought back the current Dev Kit World Champion Rick, who seems to be doing a good job of holding his title.

Need a complete RPG?

The battles rage on......

The developers battle on as games continue to be made.

The absence of Dev Kit Celebrity, Joe Zone Joe, was a little alarming as he has been missing for the entire length of the PG Dev Kit Developers League and may have fallen deep within the abyss and may need rescuing. Any information on the whereabouts of Joe Zone Joe should be rushed to PG Seattle so that the Elders can dispatch Tron Guy to the specified location. As the next meeting grows near, there are many questions to be answered; Will Cheatum and Rick have a showdown of epic proportions, or will Cheatum remain missing? Will Rick continue to hold his title? Will Joe Zone Joe be found? The answers to these questions and more await the next Dev Kit Developers League meeting to be found out.

Don't forget to check back this week for more info on the special Dev Kit tourney event this weekend, April 26-27, at Jet City Retro! Make sure to check out the next regular Pink Godzilla Dev Kit Developer's League on Sunday, May 4th at Blue Highway Games. Feel free to drop by and play a few games with the Elders and compete against the Leagues best players. Much heated battles are no doubt to ensue as the league grows so stay tuned to keep up to date with the Pink Godzilla Dev Kit Developer's League.

Don't forget to check out the past Dev Kit Developers League news:

Round One

Round Two

Round Three

Continue reading to learn the first quarter results for 2008 in worldwide sales for all your favorite consoles.

In America, however, nothing has really changed. The NDS continues its reign as king of the handhelds. Even when the PSP enjoys a spike in sales, the NDS one ups the Sony handheld.

In worldwide sales to date, the NDS still enjoys a considerable advantage over the PSP. The NDS sales to date are aproaching 70 million units whereas the PSP has sold just over 32 million units. But considering Nintendo had a stranglehold on the handheld market for decades with a 95% market share, Sony has to be happy with the PSP's performance. Now if people would just start buying games for the system....

Turning to the console market, the Nintendo Wii continues its break neck pace of sales. Considering the graph below, you'd have to think that Nintendo could have doubled its sales of the Wii if production kept up with demand. The spikes in the graph seem to indicate when a new shipment of Wii systems hit the store shelves, they sell out almost immediately.

It's hard to believe that the Nintendo Wii has out sold the PS3 two to one since its release. Neither console has a particularly strong lineup of games, but the consumers appear to prefer innovation and affordability over hi-def graphics and high tech gadgetry. Meanwhile, the XBOX 360 keeps chugging along. With its excellent line up of games and superior online capabilities, it seem as though only the red ring of death is preventing Microsoft from prevailing in the generation's console wars.

But as well as the Wii and the Xbox 360 are selling, their sales figures pale in comparison to even the PSP and are down right laughable compared to the NDS. Are we seeing a paradigm shift in the videogame industry away from stationary consoles to portable gaming?

Worldwide sales to date through the end of March 2008. Units sold are in the millions.

Nintendo Wii - 44.2% Market Share
Japan - 5.71
US - 10.26
Other - 7.6
Total - 23.57

Xbox 360 - 34% Market Share
Japan - 0.60
US - 11.44
Other - 6.09
Total - 18.12

PS3 - 21.7% Market Share
Japan - 2.04
US - 4.53
Other - 5.02
Total - 11.58

NDS - 68.1% Market Share
Japan - 22.46
US - 21.90
Other - 25.27
Total - 69.63

PSP - 21.7% Market Share
Japan - 8.82
US - 12.28
Other - 11.54
Total - 32.65