Late Night Consoling

In late breaking news that came after a day of hype by various gaming blogs yesterday, Nintendo and IBM Corp. announced that the Broadway CPUs used in Nintendo's upcoming Wii console have entered production. "The first chips are in our possession," said Nintendo senior director and general manager of integrated R&D Genyo Takeda. "Today's milestone marks the final stage of our drive to reach both core and nontraditional gamers with an inviting, inclusive and remarkable gaming experience." The chips feature silicon-on-insulator technology that reduces energy consumption by 20% while improving processing power.

Earlier this week, Sony announced that it has stockpiled many of the Cell processors used to power its upcoming PlayStation 3.

Last month, Ubisoft announced that it will be shipping seven launch titles alongside Nintendo's upcoming Wii console. Today, IGN reported that it will be bringing the number up to eight, as it tacks on a previously unannounced Wii version of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent. The game will feature a unique control scheme tailored to the system's motion-sensing controller, but in depth details were not revealed. IGN is also hosting the first screens of the game. Ubisoft Montreal is handling development of the game, which is based on the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions of Double Agent with graphical enhancements.

IGN has acquired the first official shot of cover art for PlayStation 3 software. The artwork corresponds to Sony Online Entertainment's action RPG sequel Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom. Rather than the horizontal branding bar used in all three current-gen cover art templates, the PlayStation 3 template uses a vertical "PlayStation 3" branding bar reminiscent of the vertical bar used for original PlayStation software. There is also a white-backed PlayStation family badge in the upper left. Noticing that the artwork is the precise size of Blu-ray Disc movie cover art, IGN created a mockup of what the final product may look like when inserted into a Blu-ray Disc case.

Sony's official System Update site for PSP reveals that the latest version of the portable console's system software has been made available. Among other tweaks, version 2.81 adds support for video and image content download via RSS, allows playback of AAC sound files with the .3gp extension, addresses a security vulnerability, and enables content playback from root [MUSIC], [PICTURE], and [VIDEO] folders on Memory Sticks. Sony has also made available a demo of SCEE London's World Tour Soccer 06.

Famitsu's official site has a listing of publisher Koei's upcoming Tokyo Game Show lineup, translated by IGN. The games to be showcased span PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP, and PC. The list is as follows:

- Blade Storm (PS3)
- Dynasty Warriors Mahjong (NDS, PSP)
- Fatal Inertia (PS3)
- G1 Jockey 4 2006 (PS2)
- Harukanaru Toki no Naka De (PS2)
- Mahjong Taikai IV (PS3)
- Ni-Oh (PS3)
- Nobunaga's Ambition Online (PS2, PC)
- Pocket Scenario Series Harukanaru Toki no Naka De (NDS)
- Samurai Warriors 2 Empire (PS2)
- Samurai Warriors Wave (Wii)
- Sangokushi 11 (PS2)

Microsoft today announced that 4Kids Entertainment's computer animated television series spun off of Rare's upcoming Viva Pinata (X360) will debut on FOX network television tomorrow. "People of all ages are invited into the Viva Piqata universe," said Microsoft corporate VP Shane Kim, "where they will meet a cast of wacky characters and enjoy an immersive interactive experience with the Xbox 360 game and Viva Pinata merchandise." Microsoft plans to launch an extensive merchandise line in 2007. The Viva Pinata official site will relaunch on September 11. "This is a brand the world will grow to know and love, thanks to a dynamic partnership with Microsoft Game Studios and Rare," said 4Kids chairman and CEO Alfred R. Kahn.

IGN interviews Atlus' Tomm Hulett about the company's Wii surgery-based launch title Trauma Center: Second Opinion.

IGN is hosting the first developer diary for Konami's crazy Wii launch title Elebits (check out our preview).

IGN has a developer diary written by Insomniac's Ted Price about the studio's PS3 launch shooter Resistance: Fall of Man.

IGN speaks with Ubisoft producer Tats Myojo about MTO's upcoming GT Pro Series (Wii), and has pictures of the steering wheel-shaped shell that will be included with the game.