According to Target.com it is. It's listing the Xbox 360 Pro at $299.99 as of right now, but only for "in store" sales. We're bothering our local brick and mortar Targets to confirm that the price drop has already taken effect, but if it hasn't we're sure that this-gen lollygaggers won't mind waiting a whole 48 hours for everyone else to get on board with the price slashing party.

Xbox 360 Pro Hardware [Target - thanks, jump4816!]

UK Retailer GAME To... Publish Games?

UK retailer GAME told MCV that while it might not be planning a huge pipeline of holiday titles, it plans to selectively use its distribution channels to publish undiscovered titles under its own brand name.

GAME was quick to reiterate it planned no threat to game publishers at all, and would instead seek out smaller-scale opportunities that were good fits:

“If it works commercially for GAME and helps a smaller publisher get off the ground by GAME sharing some of the risk, then we would look at it – we have a distribution channel and we can offer a service.

It's a bit of a touchy subject, because according to MCV, publishers are already none too pleased that they get absolutely zero percent of the revenues from game trade-ins at retail. The tricky circumstances are probably the reason why GAME elucidated their entire policy up-front:

Game Sales Help Boost HMV In "Next-Generation" Store Rollout

Strong video game sales, on both console and PC, helped drive retailer HMV to a 25 percent growth in their fiscal year results. The boost, the company says, will help it speed up the rollout of some fancy new stores.

Reported the UK Independent:

HMV said its pre-tax profits rose by 25.2 per cent to £56.6m and total sales grew by 11.3 per cent. Simon Fox, the chief executive, said: "A year ago, we said this would be a year for stabilising the business, but actually it turned into a year of growth. We are only one year into the three-year turnaround strategy, but we are definitely ahead of schedule."

Fox also laid out exactly how much improving game sales had helped:

Games Sales Overtake DVD Sales In The US

Oh goodie, another bound-to-be-misconstrued "games are bigger/better than X" story! This time, it's the results of the Entertainment Merchants Association's annual report, which reveals that not only did games rake in more cash than movie theatres last year, but for the first time DVD sales as well. While DVD sales amounted to $16 billion in 2007, and box office taking $9.6 billion, games took in $18.85 billion. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? It's a fun factoid for dininer parties and slow-moving bus stop conversations, but in the end, it means what it's always meant: games are expensive, while movies are less so.

Report: US game sales surpass DVDs [GameSpot]

Update: Turns out that those game sales numbers include hardware and accessories too.

Aussie Retailer Adds To 360 Price-Cut Chorus

It's not just American retailers convincing us that a 360 price-cut is imminent. Australian retailers are now in on the act as well. The local branch of K-Mart is advertising a 360 Pro bundle for AUD$449 (USD$430), a steal when you consider the rrp for the console is AUD$579 (USD$555). Sure, you can account for a few dollars saved here and there when you consider we've got our end of financial year sales on, but even then, consoles here are rarely cut by $30, let alone $130. Have K-Mart posted their price-cut prices a little early?

Console yourself [Screen Play]

Rumor: New 60GB Xbox 360 To Replace 20GB Model

Microsoft may be dropping the price of the mid-range model of the Xbox 360, if a scan from an upcoming Kmart circular can be trusted. The price slashing to $299 may not just be an effort to kick start lagging Xbox 360, according to a "usually trustworthy source" of Ars Technica's. Communication passed on via their mole points to a new, 60GB hard drive-equipped model replacing the current 20GB model, a change that's alleged to be announced at E3.

Ars Technica's source writes that the new hardware SKU will be launched "throughout July" and that the 20GB model will be officially discontinued. Consider this rumor, Microsoft-style, for now, but don't be surprised when whomever's piloting its E3 keynote mentions some extra storage breathing room.

Mole: Microsoft to drop price on 20GB 360, make room for 60GB [Ars Technica]

Samba De Amigo Wii Maraca Controllers Appear

In our previous encounters with Sega, reps have told us that they were "thinking" about maraca controllers for the Wii version of Samba de Amigo. They're "looking into it," they say. Well, if this box art from UK retailer HMV is right, they're pretty much a lock. Dug up by GoNintendo, the included maracas appear to be sleeve-style attachments, not dedicated controllers similar to the ones Sega shipped alongside the Dreamcast version of Samba.

HMV is currently listing the game and maraca combo for £34.99 (about $70 USD). We've contacted Sega to find out more and have expressed our genuine excitement, hoping that they'll get back to us sooner rather than later.

Samba De Amigo: Including Maracas [HMV via GoNintendo]

How To Get Siren: Blood Curse On Blu-Ray

The third game in the Siren series - Blood Curse - will be coming in two flavours. In Japan, you'll be able to get it on Blu-Ray. But in the US? It's being released as episodic, downloadable content, presumably in order to test the waters, see if there's really a market for the game in the US. Fine for Sony, but what if you're less a single-issue buyer, more a trade paperback kinda guy? Here's what you do: import the Asian edition of the game, which also comes on a Blu-Ray disc. Like most Asian edition's, it contains an English-language option, so you'll have it all on one disc and be able to understand the thing. Win win!

A way to experience Siren: Blood Curse on Blu-ray [Siliconera]

PSN Cards FINALLY Hitting Stores

Game Retailer to Donate 10% of Sales to China Disaster Relief

GameStop Teams With CBS To Further Annoy You

GameStop's in-store promotional bombardment is about to get a little more...intensive. The company is to launch an improved in-store "TV station" in conjunction with CBS and Reflect Systems, which will see not only select CBS programming (ie TV shows, sports, etc) broadcast directly into stores, but also a range of faux-journalistic services like "previews" and "interviews" with developers. It's to be installed in around 4000 stores across the US, and should begin rolling out next year.

GameStop launches TV network [MCV]

Another Exclusive Okami Cover

This time for the Brits. If you pre-order the game at HMV, you'll get an "exclusive" cover, which is either a savvy piece of awareness on the part of the marketing team or the result of someone at HMV realising the IGN watermark was all up in their copies of the game. Either way, it's quite lovely.

Okami: Hmv Exclusive: Special Packaging [HMV, thanks Doug!]

Say, Is Your GameStop Having A Midnight Launch For MGS4?

Why don't you check! GameStop have been sending out emails over the past few days, tipping customers off to the fact they'll be open at midnight for the launch of Metal Gear Solid 4. Only catch: not every GameStop will be open. Just some! And by some, I mean hundreds. Their list runs for 29 pages, so if your local store (or at least, a store near you) isn't on there, you may wish to consider your geographic isolation, and ask a friend via telegram or carrier pigeon to pick a copy up for you.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Midnight Launch Locations [GameStop]

GameStop opened a record 210 stores during the first fiscal quarter of 2008, the company announced today. GameStop now operates a total of 5,400 stores worldwide, and said it plans to open between 550 and 600 new stores in 2008, half of them slated for outside the U.S.

The first fiscal quarter brought strong results for GameStop, with earnings up 151.4 percent to $62.1 million, and sales up 41.8 percent to $1,813.6 million. The planned new store openings would grow GameStop's international store base by 25 percent, as part of the company's stated goal of developing its market share globally.

Sales of new game software increased an "amazing" 72 percent, according to GameStop - hit the jump for GameStop's top five sellers during its record first quarter.

Wii Fit Launch Is A Little Out Of Shape

If you were at the Nintendo World Store in NYC today, you probably got a chance to see Wii Fit. And if you were quick, you would even have got a chance to pick up a copy! But if you live somewhere that's not around the corner from the Nintendo World Store, and fancy getting hold of it, remember this: you'll be waiting another day. Or two. Seems that while the game's "official" launch date is today, May 19, retailers across the US won't be getting their shipments of the game until Wednesday, giving you much-needed extra time to clear some push-up space on your living room floor.

Confusion, shortages hobble US Wii Fit kickoff [GameSpot]