Late Night Consoling

Mere weeks after playing down rumors of a redesigned DS, Nintendo has formally announced the DS Lite, a reworked version of the successful portable console. Nintendo's Japanese site was updated with pictures of the device last night.

The new machine is about a third smaller than the original, and weighs 218 grams compared to the original's 275 grams. It also has much cleaner lines, and is molded in the glossy plastic Nintendo used for the Revolution prototype shown at last year's E3. The unit in the given render is white, and though Nintendo plans to have three colors available at launch, the choices have not yet been determined. There are various physical modifications to the layout: the d-pad and face buttons have been moved farther up on the surface of the machine, the Start and Select buttons have been moved underneath the face buttons, and the Power button has been removed from the face of the system. The microphone and status lights now reside on the hinge connecting the DS' two surfaces. The machine also features the two-rectangle DS logo on the top surface when closed. DS Lite will also feature brighter screens with four adjustible levels of brightness.

Nintendo has confirmed that this system will still accept GBA cartridges despite its reduced size. The original DS will continue to be sold alongside DS Lite, much like how the original Game Boy Advance was still sold after the GBA SP launched, though it is no longer marketed.

Square Enix formally announced today the third expansion pack for the company's MMO Final Fantasy XI (PS2, X360, PC), entitled Treasures of Aht Urhgan. It will be released for PS2 and PC on April 18 in North America, and on April 20 in Europe and Japan. The expansion adds new job types, enemies, and areas.

The PS2 and PC version of the expansion will work regardless of whether the player has either of the other two existing expansions, but the 360 version of the game will be sold as a four-in-one bundle containing the core game, and each of the three expansions: Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, and Treasures of Aht Urhgan. As with the PS2 and PC versions of the game, players of the 360 version are able to interact with players of the other versions.

Revolution Report noticed a job listing posted by Midway today looking for a level designer and scripter for a next-generation project utilizing Epic's Unreal 3 engine. What makes this rather innocuous post more interesting is that the project is listed for "PS3, XBOX 360, Nintendo Revolution." If accurate, this would be the first publically known application of the Unreal 3 engine on Revolution. The title, a first person shooter, is under development at Midway Studios Austin and is described as a "high profile" title.

If true, one would assume the engine to be significantly scaled down from its Xbox 360 and PS3 counterparts. That said, it will also be running at non-HD resolution, which would lessen the load a bit.

At time of writing, Midway had not yet responded to Shacknews' inquiries on the matter.

Further straining the already iffy "simultaneous" release of Xbox 360, Microsoft issues a statement today confirming rumors that its next-gen console would be arriving later than expected in Australia and New Zealand. Rather than the previously set March 2 date, the machine will be available to gamers at "12:01am on March 23 2006." The statement cites "unprecedented global consumer demand stemming from challenges in ramping supply" as the reason for the delay, but promises that the supply issues so far are only a "short term manufacturing challenge." The company claims to be on track ot meet its revised goal of 4.5M to 5.5M units by the end of June.

Xboxic reports that Microsoft is preparing an Xbox 360 Dashboard update to fix a variety of performance problems on the software side of the system. This would include various lockups in games, slow framerate while navigating the Dashboard, missing or unachievable Achievements, and will also apparently add "a bunch of new functionality," though not all of that functionality was not described. One part that was described is support for the USB camera Microsoft has promised to bring to the system, which would be released to stores at around the same time the update is made available for download. If this rumor does in fact prove true, it is likely Microsoft will provide a variety of ways to get it to gamers, as they have done with the backwards compatibility updates for those without Xbox Live.

Xbox cites "an inside source at Microsoft" for the information, and the news was somewhat passively corroborated by ab Xbox.com moderator and Xbox MVP.

It seems that, having muscled its way into the home console space, Microsoft may be preparing a portable console as well. However, the manufacturer isn't looking to take on Nintendo and Sony in the portable arena as much as they are trying to make a dent in Apple's control of the portable music market. Business Week reports that Microsoft is strongly considering coming out with its own portable music player, as efforts to help other manufacturers best Apple in that market have proven unsuccessful. What's interesting is what Xbox marketing man Peter Moore says about the hypothetical device: it would probably make use of the Xbox brand.

If Microsoft really plans on bringing to market an Xbox-branded portable music device, there's no way it's going to just play Breakout and Snake on a dinky LCD screen. It's tough to imagine the company diluting the Xbox name with those kind of shenanigans rather than producing a high end portable gaming device. Of course, it's equally tough to imagine the portable console market supporting yet another high-end newcomer. It seems like some kind of portable device from Microsoft is quite likely, but just what form it will take is anybody's guess.

A few gamers on the Xbox.com boards have figured out a way to forcefully allow changing game type options for Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 2 (X360, PC) over Xbox Live. Essentially, Player A goes to the system link menu of COD2 and selects the desired options. Player B, who is playing a different game such as an Xbox Live Arcade game, sends Player A an invitation to join him in whatever game he's playing. Player A accepts the invitation but when prompted to log out of COD2, chooses "No." The COD2 match should then start with Player A as the host. Clever!

Somebody by the name of Kitsune over at the Quarter to Three Forums has translated all the lyrics from the Katamari Damacy soundtrack. Finding some kind of reason, I want this get this party started, so roll up and clump up!

P. Frank Williams, writer of the recently-released 25 to Life (PS2, Xbox, PC), admits that he had a "moral dilemma" after penning the game's script. He said in regards to the game's critics who have slammed the title due to its ruthless content, "I do see their point. I can admit it is a little extreme."

GameSpot has a Q&A with Guerrilla product manager Alastair Burns regarding Killzone: Liberation (PSP).

Game Informer checks out the games and the people of Konami.