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Children of Mana marks the first new game in six years for the series immortalized by Secret of Mana. This DS title is also the first in what has been deemed the World of Mana compilation, which encompasses the upcoming Dawn of Mana for the PlayStation 2 and a cell phone remake of Final Fantasy Adventure as well. Known for its epic stories and action-based combat, the Seiken Densetsu series could be considered an action-RPG counterpart to a mildly successful line of games known as Final Fantasy. Will Square Enix’s latest offering live up to the legacy of its forefathers?

Like Legend of Mana, Children of Mana is a side story to the numbered titles in the series (Final Fantasy Adventure, Secret of Mana, the Japan-only Seiken Densetsu 3, and the aforementioned Dawn of Mana.) Unlike any Mana game so far, however, Children of Mana is a dungeon crawler, ditching the open-world layout of the previous games. Flammie the dragon will make a triumphant return to move your party from location to location.

The central location in the story is the island of Illusia, where the Mana Tree stands. Years after a great disaster, you assume the role of four orphans investigating the catastrophe that took their loved ones. The four main characters have different statistical strengths and weaknesses, and each corresponds to one of the four weapons in the game.

Weapon combat is much like in previous games with the additional feature of being able to wield two weapons at once. Players will be able to choose from a sword, a bow, a flail, and a hammer, mixing and matching as they go along.

Though the eight elementals that have become a staple of the series return, the magic system has once again been reinvented. Instead of being able to use all eight elementals at will, each character can only equip one elemental at a time (this can only be done in town.) Upon summoning an elemental, you can either wait for it to launch an offensive or run up to it to receive its touch.

Are you ready for the truly exciting part? Four player co-op. That’s right; Children of Mana will feature both cooperative and competitive multiplayer for up to four players on a system severely lacking in cooperative adventures.

Children of Mana has been readily available in Japan since March and is slated for a release on October 30th. Can we expect another great entry into the Mana universe from Square Enix?

After all, time flows like a river…

And history repeats…

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The latest PlayStation 3 development kit shipment figures are stuffed in a news-bit about the former manager of Sony Computer Entertainment of America's third-party relations jumping the U.S.S. Sony, capitalizing on those third-party relations and now working at third-part publisher Ubisoft. SCEA's PR manager Ryan Bowling states:

To date we have shipped more than 10,000 development systems to 208 companies in 11 countries, the largest number ever for a PlayStation platform... The best and brightest development teams are hard at work creating familiar franchises and original IP for the PS3 including - EA, Konami, Sega, Rockstar, Activison and our own internal studios just to name a few.

Impressive. Of course, shipped dev kits does not necessarily mean a hoard of upcoming PS3 games. With all the rumblings I've heard about development costs, my concern as a consumer is that the new Sony console will be big game only platform only for blockbusters like MGS 4 and unaccessible for the smaller, quirky developers. The PlayStation 2 hardware is great, sure, but it's library is the true selling point.

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It has been with bated breath that video game fans have been waiting to hear news regarding the move from showroom floor to production line, and eventually shopfront, of one of the most powerful gaming systems in history.

And now, according to recent reports, PlayStation 3 units have already begun production. China’s Commercial Times is reporting that the first units will be delivered to Sony this month. Asustek, a company that many PC gamers will know for their hardware under the name Asus, are said to be pumping out 2,000 PlayStation 3 units per month, with this number increasing to 2 million in October. Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. is also discussed as another company which will be producing units.

Asustek has declined to comment on this news; however, it does not seem unlikely, as to reach its goal of a November 11th Japanese release and November 17th worldwide release, production would need to begin soon.

This is much wanted news for those Sony fans that have been hearing the predominantly negative news and rumours regarding the PlayStation 3’s production. With 120 days to go until the November 17 worldwide launch these numbers appear to show that Sony will, at least, be approaching the number of units to meet demand.

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Square Enix has denied that it is developing a sequel to Final Fantasy XI for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows Vista PCs.

That's after a Nikkei.net report earlier this week said it was doing just that - something picked up on by most of the Western internet in the interim.

"The Company did not make such an announcement and has not made any decisions resembling those detailed in the media report," Square Enix said in a statement issued today in Japan.

"As the Company announced in May 2005, it is currently developing an online title for next-generation platforms including game consoles and PCs; however, this title is being developed as a completely new MMORPG. We will disclose further details of this title, including platform compatibility, immediately after any relevant decisions are made."

"In addition, the Company continuously plans to release expansion packs for Final Fantasy XI, available on PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and Windows, as well as perform version updates."

So there you go then. It's not ruling out the possibility of another Final Fantasy MMORPG, but it hasn't decided to do one yet.

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Many industry watchers are saying that the battle for console domination will be between the Sony PS3 and the Xbox 360, but EA are reckoning that the unique Wii will take that accolade.

Corporate communications vice president Jeff Brown said: “Everybody's saying that the Nintendo Wii is so unique that it's going to be the second system people buy, meaning if you own a 360 or a PS3, you'll probably also buy a Nintendo Wii.

"The funny thing is, some people say that discursively, like it's some sort of dig at Nintendo -- and what they don't get is that if you're second on everybody's system, you're first overall."

EA have already announced six titles for the Wii.

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It's already been out in the US since March, and it's still going to take another few months before Konami finally brings the Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence set over to Europe, in October 2006. But once they do, it will be a great opportunity for fans of the series to not only embark on Snake's last outing on the PlayStation 2 - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (enhanced with a new 3D camera system and online play, among others), but also travel back in time and play the "pixel-perfect" recreations of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 - the games that started it all on the now defunct MSX format back in 1987. And then some!

Subsistence is a three-disc set designed as the ultimate Metal Gear experience for the PlayStation 2, and is structured as follows:

- The first disc of Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence showcases a massively enhanced version of Hideo Kojima's acclaimed Snake Eater adventure. New to this version, however, is the 3D camera system that allows players to view the action from virtually any angle - a system that Kojima Productions will also be using in the forthcoming Metal Gear Solid 4 for PlayStation 3. The first disc also features a 'Demo Theatre', wherein players can watch specific sequences from the game's renowned cut-scenes using a simple-to-navigate menu system.

- The second disc features a number of key modes designed to extend the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater experience. One of the biggest advances comes in the form of a full Online version of the game, answering the requests of countless Metal Gear fans. Using the PlayStation 2's Network Adaptor, the second disc allows up to eight players to compete online for the first time ever in a Metal Gear game. The second disc also features a 'Duel Mode' which allows gamers to play through the timeless 'Boss' fights that punctuate the game and feature a cast of eclectic and deadly adversaries, while Kojima shows his lighter side with a 'Secret Theatre' of spoof scenes – including the return of Raiden! Fittingly for a set that celebrates Metal Gear Solid, Subsistence also features pixel-perfect copies of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 – the games that started it all on the now defunct MSX format back in 1987.

- The third disc completes the set by a visual piece-de-resistance, in the form of a full CGI Metal Gear Solid 3 movie. With a running time of three-and-a-half hours, the movie is a reedit of the game's cut-scenes with additional radio dialogue and gameplay footage seamlessly added. Previously cut sequences have been restored to the movie, allowing people to sit back and watch one of the finest video games of all time in its entirety. And, in a nod to the future of the series, Subsistence also features the full trailer to Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – a taster of Solid Snake's final mission...

Assuming that the European MGS 3: Subsistence set will be priced similarly to the US version ($29.99 - full details here), this should be great value for anyone looking to catch up on Kojima's saga before Metal Gear Solid 4 comes out on the PlayStation 3, supposedly during 2007.

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When Mario Hoops 3-on-3 was first unveiled, one of the biggest surprises was that the DS basketball title was being developed by RPG giant Square Enix. This led many to assume that characters from Final Fantasy would make an appearance in Mario Hoops, and it turns out that they were absolutely right. In an update to the game's Japanese website, Nintendo revealed that five of the playable characters will be straight out of Final Fantasy.

So which Square Enix characters made the cut? Black Mage, White Mage, and Ninja, along with a Moogle and a Cactuar. These five characters will join the likes of Mario, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Bowser for some three-on-three action. It is possible, though, that even more Square Enix characters will be added to the Mario Hoops roster since there is still a third webpage of characters that Nintendo hasn't opened yet.

Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is set to be released in North America on September 11. Stay tuned to RN for the latest on this upcoming Mario sports title.

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Square Enix's highly anticipated RPG sequel Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria claimed the first spot in last week's edition of the Japanese sales charts. Released on June 22nd, the game has sold 281,510 copies through the 25th.

Broccoli's Galaxy Angel II: Zettai Ryouiki no Tobira for PlayStation 2, which was also released on the 22nd, entered the charts at 12.

Other RPGs in the Top 50 included Square Enix's Final Fantasy XII (spot 27), Seiken Densetsu DS: Children of Mana (spot 28), Nintendo's Mother 3 (at spot 37), Success' DS title Metal Saga: Hagane no Kisetsu (at spot 38), Valkyrie Profile Lenneth for PlayStation Portable (at spot 42), Bandai's .hack//G.U. Vol.1 Saitan (at spot 43) and the PlayStation Portable remake of Magna Carta, Magna Carta Portable (at spot 49).

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Nintendo of Japan has announced that it will release the previously European-exclusive Jet Black DS Lite in Japan on September 2 for ¥16,800 ($145).

In addition, the company also announced that it has partnered with Square Enix to release a Final Fantasy III branded DS Lite in Japan on August 24 for ¥22,780 ($198). In addition to the handheld, the special package will include the anticipated DS role-playing game in the box.

While only the Polar White color is currently available in North America, the Jet Black DS Lite marks the fifth color to be released in Japan, including Ice Blue, Enamel Navy, and Ceramic White. The previously announced Noble Pink version is still scheduled to ship in Japan on July 20.

Although it has no new functionality, the DS Lite is around 25 percent smaller than the original model, features brighter screens with selectable brightness settings and a more stylish design. The handheld, which went on sale on March 2, is still difficult to obtain in Japan. However, in early June, Nintendo noted that it had stepped up production of the handheld from 1.6 million units per month to between 2 and 2.2 million units per month.

That said, a recent poll by Japanese website ITMedia confirmed the continued scarcity of the DS Lite in Japan. The report included an informal poll of consumers interested in the DS Lite to find out if they had bought the handheld yet. Of those surveyed, only 44 percent noted that they had been able to buy the DS Lite. The report also noted that 39 percent indicated that they had not yet been able to find one to buy, while 16 percent said that they had given up.

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Officials from Nintendo of Europe have announced that the DS Lite has sold more than 200,000 units in ten days, following its European launch on June 23rd, and are claiming the DS now leads the handheld market in Europe, ahead of the PSP. The significance of the figure is hard to quantify, but it is certainly comparable to the 136,500 units sold in the United States after just two days. As ever, the performance of the hardware varies wildly from country to country within Europe, with the UK reporting a “quiet” launch of 35,000 units in the opening weekend, while the console has performed better in more traditional Nintendo heartlands such as France and Germany. According to Nintendo of Europe, the Nintendo DS has now secured the lead in the handheld market in Europe, with sales of the format exceeding 5 million. No sales figures from Sony are available to compare directly, with only a “shipped” figure of almost 6 million for all territories bar North America and Japan. In terms of software, Nintendogs continues to be the best-selling Nintendo DS title in Europe, with a total in excess of 3 million copies – greater than that for either Japan or North America. Animal Crossing: Wild World, which launched in March in Europe, has also performed well, with over 600,000 units sold so far, while Brain Training (aka Brain Age) has already sold over 250,000 units after just over a month on release.

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