Late Night Consoling

Computer and Video Games is reporting on unnamed sources that developer Free Radical Design is currently working on the next edition of Star Wars: Battlefront for next-generation consoles. The first two entries in the series, both extremely strong sellers, were developed by Pandemic Studios. UK-based Free Radical, founded 1999 by former Rare employees who worked on GoldenEye (N64) and Perfect Dark (N64), is best known for its TimeSplitters series of first person shooters. The company has also announced a new first person shooter, Haze (PS3, X360, PC). Star Wars: Battlefront publisher LucasArts recently announced that it had signed an agreement with Free Radical to develop a new unspecified game for next-gen platforms. It did not give any further details.

CVG's information is currently unconfirmed, but would come as little surprise in light of the series' success and LucasArts' recent announcement.

According to a Dallas Morning News report, gaming retailer GameStop declared at its recent annual sales conference that it will be the only retailer which will have playable Wii demo units available for consumers when the machine launches. Presumably, the company's statement referred to North America, and presumably it also includes EBGames, which recently merged with GameStop. GameStop is expected to have its demo units up before the system launches, but a specific schedule was not released.

Shacknews sent inquiries to Nintendo regarding the rationale behind the move, as well as information on when other retailers would have units made available, but had not received clarification at time of writing.

Several months ago, a marketing survey on behalf of fast food chain Burger King was leaked out to the general public, revealing a potential advertising campaign involving playable Xbox and Xbox 360 games. Today, Burger King officially announced that campaign, which will consist of three budget priced games featuring the company's well known King mascot. From November 19, 2006 through December 24, 2006, consumers will be able to pick up three different Burger King-themed games from the restaurants for $3.99 each after purchase of a value meal. In addition to the King, the games will feature characters such as Burger King's Subservient Chicken as well as Brooke Burke. Each game disc includes an Xbox version of the game as well as an Xbox 360 version of the game, a first for Microsoft's gaming systems. The games are being developed by Blitz Games, also responsible for Fuzion Frenzy (Xbox) and Barbie Horse Adventure: Wild Horse Rescue (PS2, Xbox).

Pocketbike Racer (screenshots, character renders)is a bike racer featuring a variety of levels and selectable bikes, as well as support for four-player split-screen or eight-player Xbox Live multiplayer. Big Bumpin' (screenshots) is a bumper char race with an action angle, featuring various obstacles and powerups. It also features split-screen and Xbox Live play. Sneak King (screenshots) is a single-player action game that has the King surprising various hungry individuals with hamburgers and other food.

This does not mark the first time the King has been involved in a video game promotional deal. He was present as an unlockable character in EA Chicago's Fight Night Round 3.

Sega has announced that it has acquired the rights to create video games based on upcoming films based on Philip Pullman's fantasy novel trilogy His Dark Materials. New Line Cinemas, which also produced the fantasy novel trilogy film adaptation The Lord of the Rings, is producing the His Dark Materials films. The Golden Compass, the first movie in the planned trilogy, will be released in November 2007, and is likely to correspond with the release date of a game adaptation. "The Golden Compass is a perfect match for the video game medium with compelling characters engaged in a heroic conflict between good and evil in an incredible and rich fantasy world," said Sega of America president and COO Simon Jeffery. No details as to the content or genre of the games or the identity of any particular developer have been released.

Publisher KOEI today announced that iNiS' PSP rhythm game Gitaroo Man Lives! will ship in North America this November. The game has already been released in Japan and Europe. Gitaroo Man Lives! is a remake of the well reviewed but poorly selling PlayStation 2 rhythm game Gitaroo-Man. The PSP version includes the original game's 10 songs plus a couple formerly unreleased tracks, as well as a two-player versus mode via local wireless.

iNiS' Gitaroo Man Lives! will be released for PSP on November 14, 2006 for a suggested price of $39.99.

Developers from Ubisoft Montpellier have updated IGN's Rayman Raving Rabbids blog with more details about the development of the Wii version of the game.