[
UPDATED: 4:00pm PST] Today's regularly updated newsbriefs include news of the first previously Japan-only game to hit the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console,
Blue Dragon getting its first downloadable content, and Sierra sponsoring the 2007 Cyberathlete Professional League tour.
- Nintendo has released three “new” games for download over the Wii's Virtual Console in North America. This week's updates include a landmark for the service with Hudson's TurboGrafx-16 title
Battle Lode Runner, the first title previously only released in Japan to make its way to the U.S. through the Virtual Console. In addition to the traditional
Runner puzzle play, the version, now available for 600 points ($6) also includes an exclusive 5-player multiplayer Battle mode. Other updates to the service include Konami's Super Nintendo shooter
Gradius III at 800 points ($8), and Genesis action RPG
Wonder Boy in Monster World also at 800 points ($8).
- According to
an update by Japanese games publication Famitsu, Xbox 360 exclusive RPG
Blue Dragon will be getting its first downloadable content update this Friday the 27th in the form of a random dungeon generator called the "Shuffle Dungeon." Accessible from a particular in-game point, the dungeon's contents will change every time it's entered, giving players a good deal of replayable content to enjoy outside the game's main adventure. Containing both new items and new monsters, the dungeon generator will cost 300 Microsoft Points ($5). Co-developed by Mist Walker and Artoon,
Blue Dragon is scheduled to be released in North America this August.
- Video game competition organizer Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) has announced a new partnership with Sierra Entertainment, with the publisher set to sponsor the 2007 CPL World Tour, debuting in Verona, Italy on May 11-13, 2007. The eight-month tour, which will culminate with a $300,000 Grand Prize Final event currently planned for New York City will feature two titles from Sierra for the competitions, including its critically acclaimed
F.E.A.R. and the yet unreleased action strategy title
World in Conflict. Said Angel Munoz, founder and president, CPL. "We are making a long-term commitment to these exciting and highly competitive new games and are working closely with Sierra to continue to raise the profile of professional video gaming and to enable increasing numbers of gamers to enter the professional ranks."
- The latest updates on Gamasutra sister alt.gaming weblog
GameSetWatch include Game Informer EIC Andy McNamara
defending the pluses of print, what game designers can
learn from 300, and
an in-depth (no pun) look at the recently announced XBLA title
Undertow, from ex-
Advent Rising developers Chair Entertainment.
- Also updated today: the latest
Gamasutra job postings, including openings from Vivendi Games Mobile, Visual Concepts - 2K Sports, Monolith Productions, Decima Ventures, Secret Level, Red 5 Studios, Disney Interactive Studios, Cranky Pants Games, Rainbow Studios, Iron Lore Entertainment and Eurocom Developments Limited.
