As is often the case with Black Friday ads, you may not find the freshest games on Game Crazy's list if you poke about there are some rather nice deals, especially on early Friday morning, when you can get Far Cry 2 for the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 for only $39.99. Otherwise it looks like a nice shop for picking up on some older games you might have missed. Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 for $9.99 is nothing to sneeze at, and if you've never played The Darkness, $4.99 is a completely insane price.

Hit the jump to browse all four pages, oddly stylized to look like blown up comic strips from the 1950's. Marketing people are so crazy.

Microsoft UK's Regional Director Neil Thompson told MCV that the recent price cuts are just the start of their holiday season campaign and that Microsoft are ready to spend big to ensure the Xbox 360 comes out on top,

“On marketing we’ll spend tens of millions[of pounds] – we’re going to engage in a very bold promotional push from now until Christmas.”

Thompson promised that (in the UK at least) there would be no console shortages this year saying that he had been "very bullish on supply."

Xbox spending ‘tens of millions’ on Xmas [MCV]

Adventure - Atari 2600
In the beginning...
In the early days of Atari, programmers weren't given credit for the games they designed for fear of other companies trying to steal them away, but Adventure designer Warren Robinett felt that credit was due. He included a hidden object in the game that lead to a secret room that displayed the words, ""Created by Warren Robinett," which was the first known video game Easter egg. Not exactly the most exciting example, but the first deserves credit.

Final Fantasy VII - PlayStation
The Debug Room
While completing Final Fantasy VII for the PlayStation was a joy, once the credits rolled I felt a certain sadness, knowing that the game was at an end. Then I discovered the debug room, a place generally open only to programmers to allow them to test certain areas of the game. While it required a Game Shark to access, what was found within the room was worth the shame of being seen in public purchasing a cheat device. You could access key scenes in the game, play through the mini-games, add the invincible Sephiroth to your party or even resurrect the poor little dead flower girl Aeris.

SiN - PC
Rub-A-Dub-Dub
Activision and Ritual Entertainment's PC shooter SiN was chock full of Easter eggs, but none quite as intriguing as a surveillance camera that showed a slightly more human side of chilly SiNtek CEO Elexis Sinclaire. Before you click play be warned - definitely not safe for work!

Diablo II - PC
The Secret Cow Level
"There is no cow level." Perhaps this was true in the first Diablo and in Starcraft, where the phrase was featured as a code, but persistent rumors and speculation led Blizzard to finally included a secret cow level in Diablo II.

The Secret Cow Level can be very easy or very hard depending on your class, and what skills you use. The first thing you will notice is there are a LOT of cows. Exploring is not a wise idea, as you will quickly have an unbelievable number of Cows on your trail. Try to avoid being surrounded by the Cows at all costs.

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes - GC
Panties, Panties, Panties
Metal Gear Solid and its remake on the Gamecube was chock full of Easter eggs, from posters for other games to funny character reactions, to Meryl in her underwear not once, but twice! After seeing Meryl working out in her cell while in the ventilation shafts you can exit the shafts, return, and she'll be pantsless! If voyeurism isn't your thing, if you follow Meryl into the restroom later in the game fast enough, you'll get the entire Snake flirting cutscene with her in her skivvies, as seen below.

Of course for every half dozen great Easter eggs, there's always a few rotten ones laying around. The worst?

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas - Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Oh My God There's An Axe In My Game
Ridiculous product placement is one thing, but tie in a little in-game blooper reel to a conspicuously placed container of Axe deodorant and you've got by far the most rotten Easter egg around. It's an adver-egg!

There's a lovely set of six and one bad egg to get you folks in the Easter spirit. Now it's your turn to share your favorite gaming Easter eggs. Is it the Mortal Kombat Reptile fight? Good old Hot Coffee? Is it a secret to everyone? Feel free to post your picks in the comments section. Happy Easter everyone!

Bach says that Microsoft sold 17.7 million consoles this season, surpassing their expectations and putting the 360 on track for the biggest year in video game history.

"With its continued momentum in games, accessories and digital entertainment via our leading online service Xbox LIVE, and record-setting games and accessory attach rates, evidence is everywhere that Xbox 360 is thriving," Bach said.

CES press release [Microsoft]

• PSP: 1.4 Million Units
• PS2: 1.3 Million Units
• PS3: 1.2 Million Units

It's interesting to note that the PS3 sold less units than both the PSP and the PS2. Not only that but the PS2 sold almost as many units as the PSP and is making up a third of Sony's total sales. Not too shabby for a seven year old system.

There will be DLC next week. An announcement will go out today or Monday.

Sony's offices are closed next week and the DLC will be postponed for a week until they come back (but they'll be back on schedule the following week when they get a double-dose of DLC awesomeness). It will go up in the Xbox Marketplace as regularly scheduled.

Nothing like waking up the day after Christmas to find yet another gift under your tree, especially one that will keep you rockin' through the new year. If you have the 360 version that is....

To everyone who wrote in with offers of systems and games, etc: I received so many responses that it would have been impossible to write everyone back personally, so I'll take this opportunity to tell everyone thank you. Due to the huge response they will be well taken care of on the games front. But if you still want to help out this holiday (or any time for that matter), please consider donating to Child's Play or another of the many well deserving charities out there.

I spoke with Rachel (the waitress) personally this morning and she wanted me to thank everyone for all their kindness and well wishes. She said she will be sending some pictures from Christmas morning that I will be sure to post as soon as I get them.

Happy Holidays, all!

Classy, I kinda like the subtlety of Sony Computer Entertainment of America's holiday card. Maybe they should hire these people to do their commercials. The card also included a $20 PSN gift card, very cool. More pics after the jump.

A Highlands Ranch, Colorado retirement community recently banded together to track down a Wii for a 13-year-old girl and her father, the recent victim of a stroke.

Breanna Splawn, 13, spends most of her time at home taking care of her dad. Recently a physical therapist told her that playing Wii was great exercise for stroke patients, so she's been trying to find one, unsuccessfully. Breanna and her class recently visited Wind Crest, a Wiii-loving Erickson retirement community that happens to be less than a mile from my house, where she discovered that some of the folks living their like to play Wii.

"When we started talking about the Wii, Breanna told me her story," says Sharon Prouse, community resources manager at Wind Crest, "and I promised I'd find a Wii for her somehow."

Prouse ended up standing in line on Black Friday at the local Sam's Club for two hours and was the last person to land a Wii, which she presented to Breanna and her family earlier this week.

I love these stories.

Over the weekend there appeared to be another sell out of Wii consoles. On Friday, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime announced that seven retailers-Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Kmart, Toys R Us and Circuit City- would be throwing a lot of Wii consoles out on their shelves over the weekend to try and sate the appetite of games and their families.

But judging by the obvious spike in eBay listings of Wii consoles, I think it's fair to say the only thing sated was greed. From 9 a.m. Eastern Sunday to 9 p.m. Eastern Sunday alone more than 13,500 Wii consoles were listed for sale in the U.S. on eBay. Coincidence? I can't imagine.

Note: These numbers might deviate a little from 100% complete authentic scientific goodness, but the trend is still relevant.

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed today what we first broke earlier this week, Best Buy and six other national retailers will be stocking Wii this weekend. And by stocking I mean they will be advertising the console in their weekly circulars (except Wal-Mart) and then throwing the consoles up on the shelves come the weekend and then running away.

Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Kmart, Toys R Us and Circuit City are all stocking the Wii this weekend for those still on the hunt. We had several tips after our rumor story ran about the stock issue.

According to Best Buy tipsters it sounds like all stores will have at least 21 of the consoles with some carrying as many as 100. I've also heard that Best Buy is expecting a second shipment next week which is supposed to go straight to shelves. Most stores will get them sometimes before noon. The bad news is that rumor has it that that will be the last pre-Christmas shipment for Best Buy, though they expect more in early January.

Target, another tipster tells me, has a big stockpile as well, some stores have more than 100. So this weekend sounds like your best chance to pick up a Wii, unless you don't mind buying a raincheck.

We're almost positive wool enthusiast and Space Giraffe developer Jeff Minter is already on board with this idea. For those who also might be in a worldwide giving mood, purchases of sheep, school uniforms, trees or cans of worms are available at the official Oxfam America store and will go to aid one of 26 developing or in need countries.

As part of their annual MyWishList deal, American Express will be selling a limited number of Xbox 360 Elites starting next month for $300 with five games includes.

The deal, for AmEx cardholders only, will include the Elite plus copies of Ultimate Alliance, Project Gotham Racing 3, Madden NFL 08, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 and Forza 2. Only 150 of the bundles will be available on Dec. 11 at 3 pm. and 7 p.m. I'm not quite sure if that means a total of 150 or 300 of the packs.

At noon on the same day, MyWishList will feature 100 Rock Band special editions for the 36o at $50 a pop. Not bad, not bad at all.

Every year the holidays roll around and every year I promise myself, the rest of Kotaku Tower and sometimes even the readers that we're going to get off our collective asses and actually write up a gift guide. But the thing is, I hate gift guides. The hate, I think, comes from spending 12 years of my life working at newspapers where the list, the gift guide, the annual must-write-story was a thing to dread and hate. This was because as a newspaper writer you weren't allowed to buck any trends or come up with neat ideas for things like gifts, instead you had to roll out the list of things people already knew about and polish them up to make them sound new and interesting.

While I suppose you could say the same about this, our first real gift guide, I'd like to think that it holds some surprises and delights. Personally, I've already started bugging everyone I know to pool their money together and buy me Pigeon Island (Fahey's find) for my next 50 Christmases and Birthdays rolled into one.

If a $400,000 private island in the Caribbean isn't your cup of tea (and it better not be because it's MINE, ALL MINE), you're still bound to find something that tickles your fancy among this list of goodies complies by all of Kotaku's writers, be it a Japanese Gesture book or a life-sized Gundam.

Mandatory Secret Santa (Under $20)

8-bit Tie ($19.99): Nothing says "I don't care about this church ceremony" as much as a polyester, clip-on tie that's pixelated all to hell. It's the perfect way to show the gamer in your life you don't care how they dress.
Super Mario Stylus Pen ($8.59): This is the thickest DS stylus on the market. Two words: bragging rights.
Halo 3 Original Soundtrack ($12.99): Because if Bungie got one thing right with Halo, it was the music. And maybe Halo.
Animal Crossing Mugs ($10) - Coffee and Animal Crossing, what better combination?
Dot-Pin Toys ($9 - 19): For those of you like to make stuff but have better things to do with your time than start from scratch, I've always loved the dot-pin toys. There are a number of different types floating around, but vintage video games are especially suited to the low-tech peg and board sets.
FINAL FANTASY Series Plush SANTA CHOCOBO ($19.99)Nothing says holiday spirit like a Chocobo plush in a dashing Santa cap and cape. Bonus mistletoe garnish makes it irresistibly perfect for practicing your gamer's first kiss.
70 Japanese Gestures ($8.99) Learning to speak Japanese is hard. Learning Japanese gestures, not!
McFarlane Spartan Soldier Mark VI Armor (White) ($12.99) Sure, it's a pre-order, but just like with Halo 3: The Game, you must wait patiently for Halo 3: The Toy.
Altair Figure ($19.90) For those without a 360, PS3 or DS, buy this, then use it to sneak up on your Transformers before dropping quietly from the roof to slip a knife between their metal ribs.
Masters Of Doom ($7-8) Great book about the early days of id. Strange kids. Bonus appearance by American McGee.
NAMCO Sound Trading Figure ($7.49): Screw Pokemon, you gotta get all of these. Pressing a button plays a nostalgia-inducing playback of some in-game music. You can also set up the little pixel art to pretend you're playing. Pew, pew, pew!
Mass Effect: Revelation ($7.99): Not only is this probably the best video-game-themed paperback to hit stores, it also provides a much needed introduction into the world of Mass Effect.
Contact Harvest, Hellgate London Exodus ($8 to $15): Video game novels make excellent gifts as well as being an introduction to certain games for the uninitiated. There are some great reads out there this holiday season, including Mel Odom's Hellgate: London - Exodus, which I am currently reading, or Joseph Staten's new Halo novel, Contact Harvest. Note that younger gamers might need to be introduced to the concept of books.
Cake Decorating For Dummies ($13.59): Another book, I know, but you've got to do your part if you want to keep Kotaku in cake-themed posts for years to come. If you've got a friend into cooking, pick up this book from Amazon, wait a few months, and then begin seeding their minds with your idea of the perfect video game cake. It's sneaky and underhanded, but in a good way.

Relative You Don't Particularly Care For But Will Probably Bring A Gift For You ($21 to $50)

The Adventures Of Super Mario Bros. 3 & Adventures Of Sonic The Hedgehog ($46.99): Seven DVDs packed with Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog cartoons? Perfect for a post-Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games bender wind-down session.
Pac-Man Collectors' Shot Glass Set ($29.99): Now all you need is a bottle of moonshine and a drinking game with rules designed to make someone in your circle of friends go blind. Idea: someone takes a shot every time Pac-Man eats a dot. Irreparable liver damage ahoy!

I Am 8-bit Wall Decals ($40): Your friends will think you are so cool and never know that you wake up in the middle of the night having wet the bed from "another alien attack."
Final Fantasy VII Fenrir ($29): The sexy Fenrir motorcycle was once Cloud's. Now it's yours...and he has to walk.
WoW Action Figures ($49.99): FOR THE HORDE...and the Alliance too, but only grudgingly. ThinkGeek has the full set of four World of Warcraft action figures. Statistically speaking, you have to know at least a couple of people who play the game, and if you can line up a Horde player and an Alliance player, you can split the set up and let them stage battles together. Then you can blackmail them with the pictures. Everybody wins!
Comic Books (About $24): The video games of literature. I have no comic book stores that aren't a good half-hour drive away from my house by crappy Nissan standards, so I personally would love to get a year worth of comic books delivered to my door. Cartoons, movies, video games - show someone you care about where they all started.
Bomberman Exploding Bomb ($24.99) What's better than a game of hot potato? A game of hot potato with bomberman bombs.
Medicom Metal Gear Solid 20th Anniversary Snake ($29.90): Delays suck. But playing with this Snake toy is kinda like playing MGS4.
Art of Midway ($24.95): Packed with more than 160 sketches and 200 illustrations, this book is a must have for fans of Mortal Kombat, Area 51, Psi-Ops or just art.
GTA Vice City Kubrick Box Set ($35.99): Nothing says Christmas like mini-fig alcoholic porn stars, gun-toting thugs and scruples-free attorneys.
Katamari Damacy t-shirts ($24.95): I love my Katamari shirts- game related and geeky without being over the top. The comments about the shirts from cranky Katamari designer Keita Takahashi just makes shopping for them that much more fun.
The Expressive Power of Videogames ($35): Ian Bogost's book on ...serious games! I don't always agree with him, but I love reading what he has to say about the state of games as a whole.
Okami Art Book ($20-40) It's a gorgeous book full of concept and in-game art from Okami. Lots of very pretty pictures from a very pretty game.
360 Quick Charge Kit ($30) Batteries cost money, and also kill dolphins when they explode in the ocean when you throw them out. Save money, and dolphins, with one of these.

The Sweet Spot - Not too 'spensive, Not too cheap ($51 to $100)

I Am 8-Bit Art Prints (prices vary): Limited edition prints of famous Nintendo or Namco characters can liven up the study, dining room or bathroom in your home. Framing these prints may push the cost above the $100 limit, but it's the thought that counts, you cheap son of a bitch. Some good stuff is *still* available.
Six Month Gamefly Gift Ceritificate ($95.70): An "of the month" club not involving fruitcake.
Jawbone Bluetooth Headset ($99.48): For the PS3 owner who wants the best micro headset around.
Ultimate Bumblebee ($80): I am a bit of a Transformers fan. Okay, that's a bit of an understatement. I've got a room in my apartment called the Transformers closet, filled floor to cieling with them, and this Christmas I plan on adding another to my collection. The priciest Transformer ever at $80, Ultimate Bumblebee is totally worth it, with lights, sounds, music, and an animatronic system that lets the figure move. All this, and it transforms into one bitchin; Camaro to boot. Yum.
Imation Disc Stakka ($100): As a avid PC gamer for years now, I have drawers chock full of game CDs and DVDs. I can't tell you how many times I've gone hunting through boxes for disc 3 of 4 while trying to reinstall an old favorite. The Imation Disc Stakka system holds 100 discs and connects to your computer via USB cable that allows you to search and retrieve via PC or Mac database. Best of all? They're stackable, so it's a present that you can repeat. Woot!
Doki Doki Majo Shinpan Boob Pad You've read about it on Kotaku, now you too can have your very own Doki Doki Majo Boob Pad.
16 Final Fantasy Potions Cans ($72) Nothing says delicious like Final Fantasy Potion. Nothing.
Legacy X Nintendo 07 Shoes ($120):These limited-run shoes come packed with serious Nintendo heat, featuring Mario and Yoshi insoles and the ability to make you want to do some serious head-stomping.
Get Ready Outrun Shirt ($50-70): Just in case you need to remind people that no matter how many palm-tree-lined roads you're going to race down in life, there's only three radio stations you'll ever need to accompany the journey.
Edge Magazine Subscription ($75): Magazines are dead. All except this one. Great editorials, great reviews, great studio access with their preview features. Overall, 9/10.
Xenosaga Legend Episode 2 ($65): KOS-MOS - the blue haired, ass-kicking robot from the Xenosaga series - is one of my absolute game character favorites, and I have a pretty impressive figurine collection kicking about. This is a complete set of well-made and beautifully finished KOS-MOS figures.
The Video Game Explosion: A History from PONG to PlayStation and Beyond ($75): For those who are bookworms as well as gamers -The Video Game Explosion is an academic but 'readable' tome, and the first to do an serious history of games and gaming industry.
Three Port HDMI Switch ($99): It may not sound sexy, but believe me if you have one HDMI in on your television and more than one HDMI device (like a PS3 or 360 and a cable box) it's a life-saver. This one features a remote control and crystal clear signal all at a pretty low price.
Logitech G9 Laser Mouse ($99.99): With interchangeable grips, weight tuning and customizable LEDs, you're sure to have a better game using this mouse. Add to that the 3200 dpi laser engine that drives this bad boy and you will be hard-pressed to find a better gaming mouse at this price.

Person You Are Or Hope To Be Sleeping With ($100 to $500)

Human Touch Ottoman 2.0 Calf & Foot Massager ($259.95): After a day of intense schooling or an grueling talking down to from The Boss, gamers just want to come home and ignore you for hours while consumed by the hypnotic glow of the TV. Make the experience even better with a luxurious mechanical foot massage. Comes in black and "cashew."
One Laptop Per Child ($399): Empower a child in a developing nation while giving your gamer a dedicated Linux box on which to flirt with hacking. If he or she fails to get MAME or Quake to run on the ultra-budget PC, there are always a couple of built-in games to play. Do it for the kids.
Portable Atari ($350+vintage 2600): Own Ben Heck's masterpiece, a 2600 that fits in your hands.
Colorware Console($99+console): Get a industrial quality paintjob on the console of your choice. Because warranties never got anyone laid.

The Ultimate Gaming Chair ($300): Gamers always need a place to keep their ass while gaming, and if you are looking for a gaming chair, why not go for the self-styled Ultimate Gaming Chair? ( The Renegade model has got 12 vibration motors, game-activated lighting effects, 3D stereo speakers mounted in the headrest, audio inputs, USB support, a pull out storage compartment, and even a cup holder. Most importantly? Tons of gamer friendly ass storage for the low price of $299. My ass would destroy this, but I can dream.

Square Enix Final Fantasy Jewelry ($105 - $122): Nothing says I love you like fine jewelry, and nothing says I love you but I'm still the geek you fell in love with like Final Fantasy jewelry, direct form Square Enix.
Gamepark GP2X F-200 ($169) Open source, Linux running PSP alternative from Korea.
Ceramic White PSP Slim and Lite ($195) Make your Christmas a Ceramic White one.
Kotobukiya Shadow of the Colossus Statue ($100+): Either the best gaming statue you'll ever own or the world's greatest ever paperweight, the choice is yours.
Logitech Harmony 670 Universal Remote ($150): Not that exciting a choice, but it's practical. A nice compromise in Logitech's range between affordability and awesomeness, it'll free up room on your coffee table for coffee, beer steins and dead hookers.
Crimson
& Black DS Lite ($129.99): I'm behind the times and slightly ashamed of my old school, clunky DS. It would be nice to have a sleeker model to toss into my bag for those long days on campus.
Infinity
Home Theater Speaker System ($199.99): I'm not an A/V geek, so anything would be a step up from the external speakers I currently have (which would be non-existent ones). My Infinities sounded good in my car, I'm assuming they'd sound good in my house.
Sennheiser PC166USB Headphones ($150): I've got a family, which means when I game, I have to game quietly. I'm also a huge Sennheiser fan, which makes these headphones a perfect match for my late-night PC gaming sessions.
G15 Gaming Keyboard ($100): If you're going to have a top-end mouse for gaming, you should probably do the same for your keyboard. I still haven't taken the plunge on this board because I'm slightly annoyed that it's pricier than its predecessor, but I probably will break down one of these days.

Our Prices Are Insane ($500 and up)

New Discovery of Akihabara Tour ($2000): Send the gamer in your life on a pilgrimage to the mecca of otaku. The tour of Akihabara, running until January 19, 2008 and covering Akiba hotspots, is actually free. We've just factored in the international airfare and lodging that will make the trip possible.
Dream Arcades 100-inch Home Video Arcade Center ($4499): If you have over four grand to spend on gaming gifts, you have the room for a 100" display and stand up arcade gaming station. It may not have the built-in glow of the CrystalCade, but it definitely wins in the battle of the inches.
Classic 13' Skee-Ball Machine ($4775): Remember when Chuck E Cheese was Show Biz Pizza? Then you remember these bad boys.
Gateway XHD3000 Extreme HD Monitor ($1699): Proud of your 1080p console? Upscale it to 1600p with this incredible 30" monitor. Available Dec 12th.
Dream Authentics Arcade ($4,000): Back at GDC I got some hands-on time with a custom arcade cabinet from DreamAuthentics, and ever since I've been keeping a special corner of my apartment free just in case I can ever afford one. I've got my eye on the Excalibur cabinet, which is fully customizeable with tons of options, including the coveted stainless steel joystick and arcade spinner for hot Tempest action. It comes preloaded with over 200 arcade games, and with a little creativity you could even hook up your console to the beast. The price? Depending on the options the Excalibur and run you in the $4,000 range.
Your Own Island Lair ($395,000): Lord British has the whole mansion riddled with passageways and secrets, but why not take it to the next level? For less than the price of some of the homes in my neighborhood, you can own your own 7.5 acre island in Nicaragua. About $400,000 buys a tropical getaway for you to share with someone you care about, or perhaps play your very own version of The Most Dangerous Game.
CrystalCade (Email for pricing): Retro arcade gaming doesn't come cheap! Especially when it's in a glowing cabinet.
1/12 Hyper Hybrid Gundam Model ($2,764): Would it be Christmas without a Gundam as big as you? No, it wouldn't.
80GB PS3 ($500): Never been a better time. You'll have backwards-compatibility, a big HDD and by Christmas there'll actually be a couple of decent games (Rathcet & Clank, Uncharted) to play on the thing.
Atari ($??): Don't know just how much it'd cost you, but man, it can't be much.
Apple MacBook ($1099 & up): I love my last gen, pre-Intel PowerBook, but being able to run Bootcamp would be nice. Not that I need something for PC gaming, as I don't have time for the platforms I have.
A plane ticket to Taipei ($800+): Because I would kill to go hang out in my favorite game-related stores in Ximending for an evening (or several) and this time, have room in my suitcase for all the games, toys, and random crap that you can't help but acquire. Never mind the food!
Dell XPS M1730 Laptop ($2700 to $4600): Weighing in at nearly 10 pounds and sporting a backlit keyboard and case lighting effects, this high-end keyboard is really more for carting to LANs than onto a plane, but once you get it to where you are going it's sure to supply the muscle you need to pwn in any title coming out this year.
Child's Play donation (Any amount): Since 2003, Since 2003, more than two million dollars in donations of toys, games, books and cash have been given out to sick children in children's hospitals across North America and the world. How about giving in the name of a friend or relative? I know I'd love that as a present.

This year, the problem isn't finding a game to give, it's figuring out which of the more than 50 or so top-tier titles you should pick to hand out or ask for. So instead of compiling a list of the 50 games and saying, go make up your own mind, we decided to mix things up a bit. Each of the Kotaku writers were given $300 in fictitious Kotaku Kash to spend on themselves. We figured that way the writers would be completely honest about which games they would buy or ask for if they were limited to a still rather high budget.

Hit the jump to see the lists and explanations, then feel free to join in with how you'd spend a $300 gaming gift card.

Crecente
Rock Band (Game Only) ($60)
Uncharted Drake's Fortune ($60)
Super Mario Galaxy ($50)
Mass Effect ($60)
The Orange Box (PC) ($40)
Everyday Shooter ($10)
Total: $280

The truth is, if I had the budget I would have jumped at the Special Edition Rock Band, but when you start to think Rock Band or two other top-tier games, it's not that hard to pick which one has to go. Besides that, I'm pretty happy with my choices. Sure I would have loved to have an extra $40 to be able to pick up Ratchet and Clank Future, but given the choice between R&C and Uncharted I had to go with the latter because it was such a fun experience. I love Ratchet and Clank, but I've also played Ratchet and Clank. And Everyday Shooter? That's no stocking stuffer, it should probably be third on my list, right after Uncharted and The Orange Box.

Maggie:
Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (DS, $29.99)
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am (PS2, $29.99)
Blue Dragon (360, $59.99)
Wild ARMs 5 (PS2, $39.99)
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (PS2, $49.99)
Viva Piñata: Party Animals (360, $49.99)
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (DS, $39.99)
Total: $300

I'm always running behind on my game list, and a year and a half in a foreign country didn't help matters (despite my boyfriend being great about shipping me my most lusted after games), so my list is mostly old(er). I'm also appallingly busy in my life as a grad student, so money tends to go only towards games I am really, really, really dying to play and can budget time for, which means I don't buy a lot of games for myself. But if other people are doing the buying, I don't feel guilty about letting things languish! Most of this is stuff I'd love to have on my shelf to pick up at my leisure, a couple of DS titles that can go on the road with me, and the piñatas only because I love the damn things so much.

Fahey
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness (PSP, $39.99)
Eye of Judgment (PS3, $69.99)
Scene It (Xbox 360, $59.99)
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii, $49.99)
Mass Effect (Xbox 360, $59.99)
Total: $280

I realize that I'm all over the board here with my list, but there is a bit of method to the madness. More of an organized chaos, really. Disgaea for the PSP waged a massive battle in my head against Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions and just barely scraped by as my portable game of choice. Eye of Judgment has proven itself to be entertaining both offline and on, plus the addition of the PS3 camera makes it even more of a great buy. My list also leaves $30 unaccounted for, which can easily be filled with some EoJ decks and booster packs. Scene-It? makes the list because I'd like to get my family more involved in gaming, and the easy to use controllers make it an excellent gateway drug of sorts. A Wii without Super Mario Galaxy is a Wii that isn't meeting its full potential. Finally we have Mass Effect, for the simple fact that BioWare has never done me wrong.

Ash
Call of Duty 4 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, $60): Sure, shooting Nazis is old hat, but developer Infinity Ward did a fantastic job with that tried and true FPS genre convention in Call of Duty 2. Good to see them moving out of WWII and bringing on the night vision googles!
Uncharted (PS3, $60): Fell in love with this title at E3. It's got a "Romancing the Stone" meets "Indiana Jones" vibe to it. There's shooting and puzzles! Fantastic.
Wii Fit (Wii, $85): Wii Sports was fun and got me moving, but I'd like to move more. Wii Fit is less a game and more an exercise peripheral.
Time Crisis 4 (PS3, $90): Arcade shootin' fun at home! And comes packaged with the Guncon 3. Rad.
Total:$295

Luke
The Orange Box (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, $40/60): Santa needs to get me my own copy, because I'm lazy and have been making do with playing the shit out of this at friend's houses. Yeah, you get Half-Life 2. And Half-Life 2: Episode One. And Half-Life: Episode Two. And Team Fortress 2. But really, they're just the icing on Portal's cake. There is cake, right?
Rock Band (*Software Only*, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, $50/60): So the bundle's hard to come by and won't even be out in Australia til 2008. Cry me a river. I'll just get this! It'll work with a 360 guitar, and I've already got USB mics from SingStar. Remember, even without drums, this thing's still got a better tracklist, and far better DLC, than that "other" popular music title. And no, I don't mean SingStar.
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 (Nintendo DS, $40): Like Ouendan 1, but with new songs, I imagine. Which should make it just a new kind of perfect.
Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure (Nintendo Wii, $40): Despite falling madly in love with this game every time I've played it, it's still not out in Australia. So I get to ask Santa for it! And if it's not out by December 25, well, he can leave a little pre-order receipt in my Christmas stocking.
Pro Evo 2008 (Xbox 360, $60): Like Madden, but actually quite good. This is the "next-gen" version we should have got last year, with new ball physics, new animations and loads more polish. Best sports game I played all year. And, for some reason, I've played loads of sports game this year.
Skate (Xbox 360, PS3, $60): Never got around to picking this up. Shame, since every time I play it I'm tickled a happy shade of Classy Pink. Those thumbstick controls should win some kind of award.
Total:$280 to $310

Mark
The Orange Box, Xbox 360 ($60): I'd strongly recommend Half-Life 2, Episode 1&2, Portal and Team Fortress 2 all as standalone titles. But Portal is an absolute must play. Seriously, stop reading Kotaku if you haven't played it. Come back when you have.
Mass Effect, Xbox 360 ($60): Heh...uhh...he he...did you know you could...like...be a chick...and uhh...hook up with another...chick...and it's also the most ambitious RPG we've seen in ages. And it's the finest space opera to hit the 360 yet.
Twisted Metal 2, PS3/PSP ($6): Download the best Twisted Metal title now for your PS3 and PSP over PlayStation Network. The game hasn't aged a bit and it fits great in your pocket.
Super Mario Galaxy, Wii ($50): I watched as my wife trudged through Super Mario Sunshine, appreciating the experience, but not necessarily enjoying it. Then she smiled, laughed and played obsessively as New Super Mario Bros. awoke the slumbering 2D Mario franchise. It looks like Galaxy will do the same for 3D and her.
Every Extend Extra Extreme, Xbox 360 ($10): Honestly, I played this game once...and the hours began to melt away. I woke up two weeks later in Mexico to a donkey licking my face. It was awesome. Consider E4 the video game equivalent of biting the top off a cupcake and throwing the rest out.
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, PS3 ($60): If you're looking to point to one title to define the "next-gen" jump, you've found it. Now go and buy the HDTV so you can really appreciate those visuals. And then thank the gods that you weren't born 100 years ago when people entertained themselves by reading and were forced to number 2 in outhouses.
Toy Home, PS3 (TBA): With no specific price or launch date, and having never laid eyes on the game in person, I can only hope for my dreams of Re-Volt 2 and a racer that doesn't require me to actually be able to drive.
Total:Under $260

McWhertor
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3, $60) It's looking like Uncharted may be the best exclusive PlayStation 3 game of 2007 and I'd hate to show up at the cocktail party not having known the ins and outs of Drake's fortune.
Dead Rising (Xbox 360, $30) Remember this? I never played it as my Xbox 360 ownership came far too late for me to join the party. I've been knee deep in zombie films and literature this week and I don't want this dreadful feeling to stop.
God of War II (PS2, $40) Here's another top-tier game that I'd never gotten around to, despite loving the original. Most interesting is trying to unlock the mystery of the God of War series' ability to shed producers.
Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360, $60) What? I still want it. I fully intend to get the required amount of kicks during my incomplete play time with Ubisoft's hype machine.
Contra 4 (DS, $30) Since I rarely get to shirtlessly hunt boar with nothing but a pocket knife, I figure this will have to fill the void. Testosterone on the go.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Xbox 360, $15) The puzzle RPG genre is embarrassingly underrepresented in my current library.
Pac-Man Championship Edition (Xbox 360, $10) More Xbox Live Arcade remakes should be like this.
Everyday Shooter (PS3, $10) You can never be too rich, too thin or have too many shooters.
Game Center CX (DS, $45) It's an import-only retro video game collection based on a Japanese television show about playing retro video games.
Total: $300

Look, I'm already in possession of some of this season's greatest games, from Zack & Wiki to The Orange Box to Super Mario Galaxy. But there are plenty of holes in my gaming library that won't make my backlog any smaller. That's why you won't see many hundred-hour games on my list and loads of pick up and play, short session titles in the midst of one's that focus on action and adventure.

Tristan
LEGO Star Wars the Complete Saga (DS, $35): Not only is my son totally addicted to this game, he convinced me to buy a second copy so we could play through the entire campaign co-op... and now I'm addicted.
Cosmic Family (Wii, $50): Tristan has spent an inordinate amount of time sitting thoughtfully in front of the television with the Cosmic Family's child-appropriate brain teasers.
Zoo Hospital (DS, $30): Think Zoo Tycoon meets Trauma Center. A bit too simplistic for adults, perhaps, but loads of fun for kids, especially if they like first diagnosing and then treating animals.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360, $185): My son is a full blown Guitar Hero addict. He spent a bit of time with Rock Band before we left for Australia on vacation, but it's Guitar Hero that keeps him coming back for more.
Total: $300

Never mind that my 6-year-old son, upon discovering that he didn't have enough Kotaku Kash to buy all the games he wanted, tried to convince me I had said that he had $800 not $300 to spend... and then stormed from the room after calling me a liar. He still was mostly content with his picks. He didn't even blink when I told him that more than half of his cash was going to Guitar Hero. But then again he's been stomping around the house singing We Will Rock You for most of Thanksgiving morning.

The site currently favors Need for Speed ProStreet 11-10—in their eyes, it's pretty much a sure thing. Fifa 08 comes in second at 2-1 and The SImpsons game is third at 3-1. (All listings appear to be cross platform). The best odds on the list? Balloon Pop. Yup, 250:1 on that longshot...which trust us, isn't even worth the 50-cent bet you have in mind. And that 50 Cent album that just streamed into your consciousness? Also worth ignoring.

No.1 Christmas video game? [via gamelife]

Sure Super Smash Bros Brawl has been pushed back into 2008, but there's still going to be a ton of games to choose from for the Wii and DS. Check out the full list of release titles on the jump and keep an eye of for Link's Crossbow Training on the Wii and Assassin's Creed on the DS to name a few.

"Because of Wii and Nintendo DS momentum, third-party publishers are supporting our systems like never before," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Their lineup of diverse games is testament to how we make the population of gamers a little bigger every day."

Wii
Oct. 15: Sea Monsters from DSI Games
Oct. 16: Thrillville(R): Off the Rails(TM) from LucasArts
Oct. 22: EA PLAYGROUND from Electronic Arts
Oct. 23: Backyard Football from Atari, Inc.
Oct. 23: The Sims 2(TM) Castaway from Electronic Arts
Oct. 23: Rockstar Games Presents(TM) Table Tennis from Rockstar Games
Oct. 23: The Legend of Spyro(TM): The Eternal Night from Sierra
Entertainment, Inc.
Oct. 23: NARUTO(TM): Clash of Ninja(TM) Revolution from TOMY Corporation
Oct. 25: M&M'S(R) Kart Racing from DSI Games
Oct. 28: Guitar Hero III(TM): Legends of Rock from Activision
Oct. 29: Battalion Wars(TM) 2 from Nintendo
Oct. 30: Ben 10(TM): Protector of Earth from D3Publisher of America(R)
Oct. 30: Showtime(R) Championship Boxing(TM) from DSI Games
Oct. 30: NEED FOR SPEED PROSTREET from Electronic Arts
Oct. 30: THE SIMPSONS from Electronic Arts
Oct. 31: Manhunt 2(TM) from Rockstar Games
October: Spider-Man(TM): Friend or Foe from Activision
October: Bee Movie(TM) Game from Activision
October: Tony Hawk's Proving Ground from Activision
October: Ultimate Duck Hunting(TM) from Detn8 Games Ltd.
October: Mercury Meltdown Revolution from Ignition Entertainment
October: Namco Museum(TM) Remix from NAMCO BANDAI Games America
October: Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity from The Game Factory
October: Avatar: The Last Airbender(TM) - The Burning Earth from THQ
October: Bratz: The Movie(TM) from THQ
October: Cars: Mater-National from THQ
October: Nicktoons(TM): Attack of the Toybots from THQ
October: SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis(TM) from THQ
Nov. 5: Fire Emblem(R): Radiant Dawn from Nintendo
Nov. 6: DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party from Konami Digital
Entertainment, Inc.
Nov. 6: LEGO(R) Star Wars(TM): The Complete Saga from LucasArts
Nov. 6: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games(TM) from SEGA
Nov. 12: Super Mario Galaxy(TM) from Nintendo
Nov. 13: Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 13: Godzilla Unleashed from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 13: Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary from Eidos, Inc.
Nov. 13: BLOCKS from Electronic Arts
Nov. 13: MEDAL OF HONOR HEROES(TM) 2 from Electronic Arts
Nov. 13: LUXOR: Pharaoh's Challenge from MumboJumbo
Nov. 13: Geometry Wars(TM): Galaxies from Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Nov. 19: Link's Crossbow Training(TM) (packaged with Wii Zapper(TM)) from
Nintendo
Nov. 19: SMARTY PANTS(TM) from Electronic Arts
Nov. 20: Jenga World Tour from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 20: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords(TM) from D3Publisher of
America(R)
November: Trauma Center(TM): New Blood from Atlus USA
November: Star Trek: Conquest from Bethesda Softworks
November: Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey from Disney Interactive
Studios
November: Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour from Disney Interactive
Studios
November: High School Musical: Sing It from Disney Interactive Studios
November: Garfield Gets Real from DSI Games
November: Furu Furu Park from Majesco Entertainment
November: AMF Bowling: Pinbusters! from Mud Duck Games
November: Ghost Squad(TM) from SEGA
November: WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2008 from THQ
November: Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 from Ubisoft
November: CSI: Hard Evidence from Ubisoft
November: My Word Coach from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Catz 2 (name not final) from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Dogz 2 (name not final) from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Horsez 2 (name not final) from Ubisoft
November: Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 from Ubisoft
Dec. 4: Alvin and the Chipmunks from Brash Entertainment
Dec. 4: The Golden Compass(TM) from SEGA
December: MX vs. ATV(TM) Untamed(TM) from THQ
December: Super Swing Golf(TM) Season 2 from Tecmo, Inc.
December: Rygar(R): The Battle of Argus from Tecmo, Inc.
December: Cranium: Kabookii from Ubisoft
December: Nitrobike from Ubisoft
Holiday 2007: NiGHTS(TM): Journey of Dreams from SEGA
Winter '07: SoulCalibur Legends(TM) from NAMCO BANDAI Games America
Jan. 21: Endless Ocean(TM) from Nintendo
Feb. 10: Super Smash Bros.(R) Brawl from Nintendo
Feb. 15: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games
Feb. 19: Sonic(TM) Riders: Zero Gravity from SEGA
February: No More Heroes from Ubisoft
February: Wild Petz Tigerz from Ubisoft
March: Obscure: The Aftermath from Ignition Entertainment
Q1: LUXOR 3 from MumboJumbo
Q1: One Piece(TM): Unlimited Adventure(TM) from NAMCO BANDAI Games
America
Spring '08: Mario Kart(R) Wii (name not final) from Nintendo

DS
Oct. 15: Flash Focus(TM): Vision Training in Minutes a Day from Nintendo
Oct. 15: The Aly & AJ Adventure from DSI Games
Oct. 16: Cheetah Girls: Pop Star Sensations from Disney Interactive
Studios
Oct. 16: Thrillville(R): Off the Rails(TM) from LucasArts
Oct. 16: Fish Tycoon(R) from Majesco Entertainment
Oct. 16: Super Collapse! 3 from MumboJumbo
Oct. 17: Prism(TM) from Secret Stash Games(TM)
Oct. 19: Betty Boop's(TM) "Double Shift" from DSI Games
Oct. 22: EA PLAYGROUND from Electronic Arts
Oct. 23: THE SIMS 2 CASTAWAY from Electronic Arts
Oct. 23: Rhythm 'n Notes: Improve Your Music Skill from AGETEC
Oct. 23: Backyard Football 2008 from Atari, Inc.
Oct. 23: Napoleon Dynamite from Crave Entertainment
Oct. 23: Ed, Edd n Eddy(TM): Scam of the Century from D3Publisher of
America(R)
Oct. 23: Hannah Montana: Music Jam from Disney Interactive Studios
Oct. 23: Disney Princess: Magical Jewels from Disney Interactive Studios
Oct. 23: Power Rangers: Super Legends from Disney Interactive Studios
Oct. 23: Zoo Hospital(TM) from Majesco Entertainment
Oct. 23: FRONT MISSION(R) from Square Enix, Inc.
Oct. 23: NARUTO(TM): Path of the Ninja(TM) from TOMY Corporation
Oct. 25: Sea Monsters from DSI Games
Oct. 25: Arctic Tale from DSI Games
Oct. 30: Ben 10(TM): Protector of Earth from D3Publisher of America(R)
Oct. 30: Suite Life: Circle of Spies from Disney Interactive Studios
Oct. 30: Dr. Seuss: How the Grinch(TM) Stole Christmas from DSI Games
Oct. 30: NEED FOR SPEED PROSTREET from Electronic Arts
Oct. 30: THE SIMPSONS from Electronic Arts
Oct. 30: Puzzle de Harvest Moon from Natsume Inc.
Oct. 31: Dementium: The Ward from Gamecock Media Group
Oct. 31: Solitaire Overload(TM) from Telegames, Inc.
October: Spider-Man(TM): Friend or Foe from Activision
October: Bee Movie(TM) Game from Activision
October: Shrek(R): Ogres and Dronkeys(TM) from Activision
October: Tony Hawk's Proving Ground from Activision
October: Touch Detective 21/2(TM) from Atlus USA
October: Animal Genius(TM) from Scholastic
October: Build-A-Bear Workshop from The Game Factory
October: Avatar: The Last Airbender(TM) - The Burning Earth from THQ
October: Cars: Mater-National from THQ
October: El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera(TM) from THQ
October: Nicktoons(TM): Attack of the Toybots from THQ
October: Ratatouille(R) Food Frenzy from THQ
October: SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis(TM) from THQ
October: Chessmaster: The Art of Learning from Ubisoft
October: Imagine: Babyz from Ubisoft
October: Imagine: Fashion Designer from Ubisost
October: Imagine: Master Chef from Ubisoft
October: Imagine: Animal Doctor from Ubisoft
October: Wild Petz Dolphinz from Ubisoft
Nov. 6: Dora the Explorer(TM): Dora Saves the Mermaids from 2K Play
Nov. 6: Go Diego Go(TM): Safari Adventure from 2K Play
Nov. 6: Baby Pals from Crave Entertainment
Nov. 6: Horse Life(TM) from D3Publisher of America(R)
Nov. 6: LEGO(R) Star Wars(TM): The Complete Saga from LucasArts
Nov. 6: Chicken Hunter from MumboJumbo
Nov. 6: DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS(TM): Joker from Square Enix, Inc.
Nov. 10: Showtime(R) Championship Boxing(TM) from DSI Games
Nov. 13: Enchanted from Disney Interactive Studios
Nov. 13: BOOGIE from Electronic Arts
Nov. 13: ORCS & ELVES from Electronic Arts
Nov. 13: Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends from Majesco Entertainment
Nov. 13: Geometry Wars(TM): Galaxies from Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Nov. 19: Mario Party(R) DS from Nintendo
Nov. 20: Godzilla Unleashed Double Smash from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 20: Jenga World Tour from Atari, Inc.
Nov. 20: LUXOR: Pharaoh's Challenge from MumboJumbo
Nov. 20: FINAL FANTASY(R) XII: REVENANT WINGS(TM) from Square Enix, Inc.
Nov. 26: Master of Illusion(TM) from Nintendo
November: Call of Duty(R): Modern Warfare(TM) from Activision
November: Ontamarama(TM) from Atlus USA
November: Draglade(TM) from Atlus USA
November: Elf Bowling(TM) Collector's Edition from Detn8 Games Ltd.
November: Garfield Gets Real from DSI Games
November: Clue(TM)/Mouse Trap(TM)/Perfection(TM)/Aggravation(TM) from DSI
Games
November: Contra 4 from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
November: Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 from Konami Digital
Entertainment, Inc.
November: Strawberry Shortcake: The Four Seasons Cake from The Game
Factory
November: Bratz Super Babyz(TM) from THQ
November: Bratz: 4 Real(TM) from THQ
November: Warhammer(R) 40,000(TM): Squad Command(TM) from THQ
November: WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2008 from THQ
November: Ninja Gaiden(R) Dragon Sword from Tecmo, Inc.
November: My French Coach from Ubisoft
November: My Spanish Coach from Ubisoft
November: My Word Coach from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Catz 2 (working title) from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Dogz 2 (working title) from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Hamsterz Life 2 from Ubisoft
November: Petz: Horsez 2 from Ubisoft
November: Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 from Ubisoft
Dec. 4: Alvin and the Chipmunks from Brash Entertainment
Dec. 4: The Golden Compass(TM) from SEGA
Dec. 10: RIP: Death Volunteers(TM) from Telegames, Inc.
December: Diary Girl from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Jan. 15: Barnyard Blast from DSI Games
Jan. 21: Advance Wars(R): Days of Ruin from Nintendo
Jan. 25: M&M'S(R) Kart Racing from DSI Games
Jan. 31: Command & Destroy from DSI Games
January: Miami Nights from Ubisoft
Feb. 4: Professor Layton and the Curious Village(TM) from Nintendo
Feb. 12: New Zealand Story Revolution from Ignition Entertainment
Feb. 15: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games
Feb. 19: Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer from SEGA
Feb. 26: Bubble Bobble Double Shot from Ignition Entertainment
February: Imagine: Figure Skater from Ubisoft
February: Wild Petz Tigerz from Ubisoft
February: Assassin's Creed from Ubisoft
March 4: Disney Friends from Disney Interactive Studios
March 29: Ultimate Card Games from Telegames, Inc.
March: Insecticide from Gamecock Media Group
March: My Life Coach from Ubisoft
Q1: Eco Creatures: Save the Forest from Majesco Entertainment
Q1: Polar Bowling from MumboJumbo
Q1: Slingo Quest from MumboJumbo
Q1: Tropix from MumboJumbo
Q1: Polar Golf from MumboJumbo
Q1: River King: Mystic Valley from Natsume Inc.
Q1: Harvest Moon DS Cute from Natsume Inc.
Q1: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games(TM) from SEGA

Chacun son pack [Gamick]

Playstation has decided to let the kiddies play on the PS3 by releasing the sequel to the PS2 and PSP favorite Boku no Natsuyasumi, which the people over at Crunk Games have a great and detailed description for. Unfortunately, it's probably never going to sail over to US waters since it looks like this is last version of the game SCEA makes, but how hard could it be to live out a summer vacation in Japanese?

Either way, I'm starting to re-evaluate my quality of life. Especially since I can walk into a store and buy a PS3 right now if I wanted, but that stupid little white box is nowhere to be found. Kim Phu

Sony's PS3 bug catching game coming out this summer [Siliconera]

The folks over at Blizzard Entertainment put together this funny little podcast that is supposed to be a talent search for the World of Warcraft's "Twas the Night Before Wintervale."

Besides plenty of WoW jokes and silliness there's also a couple of murloc carols and, finally, the finished product.
Brian Crecente

Twas the NIght Before Wintervale [via Destructoid ]

It's the day after and my house is filled with bits of shredded colorful paper and lots of toys for Tristan. While I didn't get anything specifically gaming related, I did get some nice computer dodads including a brand spanking new desk from my son, a Zune and one of those funky Bluetooth virtual keyboards.

What about you, get anything gaming related for the holidays? Brian Crecente

Sony today announced that Gran Turismo HD Concept is hitting the Playstation store for free on Christmas Eve in North America too. They had previously announced the deal for Japan.

The limited time free download supports 1080p and includes the Eiger Nordwand course. After unlocking ten cars in the time trial mode, players have access to ten more tuned cars as well as a Drift Trial mode.

While it sounds like the game doesn't support online play, it does allow you to upload your times and view the top 10 ranking for each car and mode. You can also play and save replays online.

Here's the list of the cars included in the freebie, in order of appearance:

— 1995 Suzuki Cappucino
— 1989 Mazda Eunos Roadster
— 2004 Honda Integra TYPE R
— 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR
— 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe
— 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
— 2005 Lotus Elise 111R
— 1994 Nissan SKYLINE GT-R Vspec II
— 1995 Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car
— 2006 Ferrari 599

Hit the jump for the full release. Brian Crecente

PLAYSTATION(R)Store Offers Gran Turismo(TM) HD Concept Free for
PLAYSTATION(R)3 Owners This Holiday Season

World's Most Popular Driving Videogame Franchise Available in Full HD*

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment
America (SCEA) announced today the December 24 North American release of Gran
Turismo(TM)HD Concept, available for free download, exclusively on the
PLAYSTATION(R)Store (PS Store) for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer
entertainment system. Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc., this driving game
features an all-new course for players to be the first to drive a Ferrari on a
PS3, as well as have the option to select a car from nine other worldwide
manufacturers that include Infiniti, Lotus, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki.
Available only for a limited time, Gran Turismo HD Concept takes full
advantage of the PS3 PLAYSTATION 3 hardware performance by providing full HD
1080p* resolution and next-generation car physics ushering in a new era of
racing for the gaming industry.
"Gran Turismo HD Concept provides PS3 and automotive fans a glimpse into
the future of Gran Turismo," states Kazunori Yamauchi, famed creator of the
Gran Turismo franchise. "With the power of the PS3 technology, the world of
Gran Turismo is refined by its full HD visual presentation and unique
interactive experience, resulting in an even more realistic and true driving
simulator."
Upon downloading Gran Turismo HD Concept, PS3 users have access to the
Eiger Nordwand course and can compete in Time Trial races to collect and
unlock new cars. Upon unlocking the initial 10 cars, the player has access to
10 more "Tuned Cars," as well as access to a new driving mode called "Drift
Trial."
In the "Drift Trial" mode, the player can master the art of drifting and
achieve ultimate control of their car. Furthermore, when connected to the
PLAYSTATION(R)Network (PS Network), the player can upload their times and view
the Top 10 rankings for each car and mode, as well as play and save replays
online.

Featured Automobiles in Gran Turismo HD Concept (Year, Manufacturer,
Model)
In order of appearance in game (available in stock and "tuned" versions):

— 1995 Suzuki Cappucino
— 1989 Mazda Eunos Roadster
— 2004 Honda Integra TYPE R
— 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR
— 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe
— 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
— 2005 Lotus Elise 111R
— 1994 Nissan SKYLINE GT-R Vspec II
— 1995 Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car
— 2006 Ferrari 599

Additional Information About The Game Modes in Gran Turismo HD Concept
In "Time Trial" mode, the player selects a car and must complete the Eiger
Nordwand course within the target time indicated at the top of the screen.
Each time the player beats the target time, a new car is unlocked and made
available for selection. As stated, upon unlocking all of the cars, the
player can access tuned cars, along with the option to race Eiger Nordwand in
the opposite direction.
In "Drift Trial" mode, the player's drifting technique is tested, rather
than their lap time. The player earns drift points based on their drift
angles, racing lines, and speeds within evaluation zones located at various
turns on the course. For each evaluation zone, the results are based on the
number of flags and a numerical figure. The point total from all zones
determines the player's drift points for the lap and is counted toward the
rankings.
The following settings are available during gameplay: 1)
Transmission — the player can select either Manual or Automatic. 2)
Stability Management (SM) — the player can turn this ON or OFF during
gameplay. ASM is designed to prevent vehicle skidding by controlling each of
the four wheel brakes independently. 3) Traction Control (TC) Level — the
player can set the TCS level, which senses drive-wheel slip and prevents wheel
spin. 4) Tires — the player can select front and rear tires from nine types
of brands.

About Gran Turismo
With more than 45 million units sold worldwide, the award-winning Gran
Turismo franchise for the PlayStation(R) platforms serves as the racing game
of choice amongst the automotive and gaming audience due to its true-to-life
graphics, physics and real-life cars and tracks. Since the inception of the
Gran Turismo franchise, famed creator - Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony
Digital Inc. in Japan have revolutionized the racing category as we know it
today. His offerings provide the gamer with the most true-to-life driving
simulation within the industry and a unique medium for automobile
manufacturers to showcase their products. In Motor Trend Magazine's February
2005 and 2006 issue, Yamauchi was selected as #17/50 most powerful people in
the automotive industry. For more information, please visit
http://www.gran-turismo.com .
The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated
all Gran Turismo properties "E" for Everyone. For more information about the
ESRB, please visit www.esrb.org.

2K today released a free holiday scenario for Sid Meier's Railroads!.

The pack includes a new holiday train with two skins and custom sounds; holiday-themed extras like cookies, eggnog and toys; holiday music; a North Pole environment and a scenario that has you trying to stop three robber barons from destroying Christmas. Brian Crecente

The event, held at Barcade in Brooklyn, is an official fund-raiser for Child's Play. Don't forget, if you've got some cash and a big heart, there's still time to donate to the charity. Brian Crecente

Funde Razor II Grand Total: $4, 216 [Funde Razor]

While shipments seem to be trickling in, I don't believe any store has either console just piled up.

I went to my local Best Buy Sunday night to buy an incredibly over-priced HDMI switcher for my PS3 and cable box and stopped in on the gaming section to check things out.

There obviously weren't any PS3s or Wiis around, and I sorta dreaded going up to the blue shirt to ask if any were in the back. I knew there weren't, but had to check, and expected a melting look of disdain when I asked.

Fortunately, the blue shirt had pity on me, just spewing out the next-gen console facts. Both flavors of 360s were readily available. The last Wii shipment the store received came in that very day, but sold out quickly. The last Playstation 3 shipment the store got was a "surprise shipment" that arrived a few days after the launch day and sold out immediatly.

While Best Buy was expecting more Wii in before Christmas, they weren't expecting any more PS3s, but the employee said they could always get more "surprise shipments" of Sony's console.

I suspect what this really means is that they don't plan on advertising PS3 stock because it's a trickle, but that they will be advertising Wii stock because enough are showing up to warrant the inevitable lines that form.

I asked how I was supposed to figure out when a PS3 was in the store for sale and she said, "if you see people running to the back of the store and shouting on their cell phones, we probably have Playstation 3s in stock."

Yeah, that or someone's robbing the place. Brian Crecente

Now that the money sucking madness of the console launches, Thanksgiving and Black Friday are behind us, we can concentrate on the money sucking madness of the winter holidays. You can get a head start on shopping for your favorite gamer with these great holiday themed t-shirts from Wear of the Rodent for a mere $22 plus shipping. I know for most of you, your favorite gamer is yourself, but perhaps you could share some of this fine gamer fashion with others this holiday season. I am particularly fond of the Katamari snowball shirt, so please feel free to send me one plus a check for $500 dollars and a PS3. Flynn De Marco

Way of the Rodent Video Game T-shirts
[via: Wonderland]

Mmmmm... Thanksgiving. This will be the first time in a long time that I don't get to see my family on the fourth Thursday of November and the first in years that doesn't devolve from family togetherness into a Mario Party or Karaoke Revolution gatherround cut short by a tryptophan coma. Instead, I'll be hanging with the Tofurkey set, enjoying a half-dozen or so adult beverages, playing ultra-violent games like Gears of War or spending some alone time with Elite Beat Agents.

For those of you spending quality time with the fam', including those travelling cross-country, what are you playing? Who's bringing what consoles with them home? Anyone going to show off their new Wii's or PS3's to mom, dad, grandma, et al?

Let us know your holiday gaming plans in the comments. And save me some pie. Michael McWhertor

My personal favorite, from a reader long ago, is: Kotaku: We put the K in Otaku.. (The First K, Not the Second One.)

But no one seems to like that, so unless you want a blank white t-shirt, you're going to need to help us.

Here's the deal, email in your t-shirt ideas and the person who comes up with the winning slogan gets some free t-shirts, and some sort of swag from my pile o gaming crap.

If you have something email us at tips@kotaku.com with t-shirt in the subject line. We're going to try and pick a winner by the end of the month.

Microsoft Game Studios head Shane Kim told Reuters that demand for Gears of War is second only to Halo 2's pre-sale hype. Halo 2 launched with record one-day sales of $125 million.

While Kim wouldn't say what Gears' pre-sale numbers are he did say that they have been "outstanding" and that it's number two behind Halo 2. I'm under embargo for the game, so all I can say is that I didn't sleep at all last night. At.. All.

As for the other, someone bent, prong of Msoft's two-prong attack, Viva Pinata continues to chug along with almost no comparable buzz. Personally, I think if they should have just gone with a single prong. I mean, who doesn't want to play Pinatas of War? Brian Crecente

MS: 'Gears' Demand Second Only to 'Halo 2' [GameDailyBiz]

First the Wii managed to finagle its way onto Toys R Us' questionable Hot list for the holidays, and now Nintendo's console is on Toy Wishes magazine's Hot Dozen list.

While the list is sort of all over the place, the reasoning for including the Wii by the mag's editor-in-chief is rock solid.

"The toy industry is in transition from what we consider toys to family entertainment, and this falls under that category," Silver said of the Wii.

No other consoles or portables make an appearance on the list, which is detailed after the jump. Hmmm, maybe Nintendo's strategy is working afterall. Brian Crecente

** Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses by Mattel

** Bratz Forever Diamondz by privately held MGA Entertainment

** Butterscotch My FurReal Friends Pony by Hasbro.

** Digi Makeover by Radica, which is now owned by Mattel.

** Fly Wheels XPV by Jakks Pacific Inc.

** Kid Tough Digital Camera by Fisher-Price

** Lego Mindstorms NXT by Lego

** Magtastik by Mega Brands

** Monopoly Here & Now by Hasbro

** Speed Stacks StackPack by Jakks Pacific's Play Along

** T.M.X. Elmo by Fisher-Price.

** Wii by Nintendo.

Here are the questions, courtesy of GameFront.

1. Which next gen console will, in your opinion, sell better during Christmas?
88% - Wii
11% - PS3

2. With all hardware considered, which console do you expect to sell best after Christmas?
60.7% - Nintendo DS
32.8% - Wii
3.3% - PS2
1.6% - PS3
1.6% - Xbox 360

Well that seems to just about wrap it up for Sony! Let's hope they can get our of their lease and unload their office furniture on CraigsList.

Funny. Our scientific polling of some 40-odd TGS attendees and cosplayers says the split between those interested in the Wii and the PS3 is closer. But who cares about interest? Not retailers! Considering that Sony will only be shipping 100K units at launch and lord knows how many before we all celebrate Baby J's birthday, this seems fairly accurate. Michael McWhertor

For the first time in the history of the list, Toys R Us included a console. That's right, no Playstations, no Gamecubes or NESes or Xboxes ever made their list.

In deciding to pick a console for the list, the company has waded hip-deep into the game wars declaring that the Wii should make the list, but that the PS3 just isn't main stream enough for them.

"The PlayStation 3 is really geared to a savvy gaming enthusiast," said Kathleen Waugh, a spokeswoman for Toys "R" Us, of the decision to add the Wii to the list. "The Wii system appeals to young kids as well as adults."

The spokesperson went on to say that "one of Toys "R" Us' criteria of adding an item to its hot list is knowing it will have sufficient stock of the item for the holiday season, and she said that Toys "R" Us was able to ensure that by "taking a leadership position on the launch of Wii.""

Hmmm, that's interesting. I've always wondered if the Hot LIst is advertising in disguise or the genuine product of market analysis and such. That last comment makes me think more the former.

Full list on the jump. Brian Crecente

Nintendo's Wii on Toys "R" Us hot holiday list [Reuters]

* Blue Man Group Percussion Tubes from ToyQuest,

* Designer's World from Tiger Games,

* Dora's Talking Cash Register from Fisher-Price,

* ESPN Fast Action Football from Fisher-Price,

* Kid-Tough Digital Camera from Fisher-Price,

* Laugh & Learn Baby Grand Piano from Fisher-Price,

* Mindstorms NXT from Lego,

* My Scene My Bling Bling Styling Head from Mattel,

* Pink Nitro Notebook from VTech,

* Power Rangers Deluxe Manticore Megazord from Bandai,

* Speed Stacks StackPack from Play Along,

* Sound City Railway from Imaginarium,

* Tap Dancing Mumble from Thinkway,

* T.M.X. Elmo from Fisher-Price, and

* Wii from Nintendo.

To celebrate the Halloween launch of FFXII in America, New York City (yes, New York fuckin' City) has declared October 11th as "Final Fantasy XII Gamer's Day." Playable English versions will be on display at New York's DigitalLife's Gaming Pavilion. Taking a page from the Japanese PR handbook, there will also be hosting a costume contest. Cosplaying at a FF event? Didn't see that one coming. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [College Gamer]

Sony this morning confirmed that they will start selling the Playstation Portable Entertainment pack this holiday.

The pack, which will sell for $250, will include a copy of ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails, the movie Lords of Dogtown and a Sony 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo.

"The PSP system's success stems from its ability to combine console-quality gaming with multimedia applications, and this new package showcases all of the system's strengths," said Peter Dille, senior vice president, marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Whether consumers want to pick up and play one of our top racing franchises, watch a movie, or enjoy their own music, photos, downloadable content and more, the PSP Entertainment Pack delivers it all in one convenient package."

"While the PSP system has out-sold all other next-generation gaming handhelds in the period since its launch, we expect this new offering to drive additional consumer interest and sales, particularly as the holiday shopping season approaches," Dille said.

While I applaud the idea of throwing in $50 worth of free stuff with their PSP (I especially like the 1GB Memory Stick), I wish they had included a better game, like maybe Star Wars Legos II, LocoRoco or Lumines.

Hit the jump for the full press release. Brian Crecente

Sony Computer Entertainment America Launches PSP(R) (PlayStation(R) Portable)
Entertainment Pack for $249.99(SRP)

Holiday Shopping Starts Early With a New Package Including ATV Offroad
Fury(R): Blazin' Trails, 'Lords of Dogtown' UMD Movie, and a 1GB Memory Stick
Pro Duo(TM)

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment
America today announced the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R) Portable) Entertainment
Pack, a new "all-in-one" offering for portable gaming and entertainment.
Available beginning September 13, the package features a PSP system along with
the best-selling off-road racing game ATV Offroad Fury(R): Blazin' Trails, the
"Lords of Dogtown" UMD(TM) movie, and a Sony 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo(TM).
With an SRP of $249.99, the PSP Entertainment Pack offers great value to
consumers ahead of the holiday shopping season.
"The PSP system's success stems from its ability to combine
console-quality gaming with multimedia applications, and this new package
showcases all of the system's strengths," said Peter Dille, senior vice
president, marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Whether consume