Pojo's Friday News Page
June 3rd - 2006

Xbox handheld rumours endure

Despite us being told face-to-face that there was no truth in the story by a man from Microsoft, those handheld Xbox rumours just won't die. FullStory

X-Men: The Official Game Review (Xbox, X360)

The curse of the bad movie tie-in games is in full effect with X-Men: The Official Game. It is your standard third-person beat-em-up where you could plug in pretty much any characters and the experience would be the same. It feels rushed and the graphics are far from the best the Xbox 360, or Xbox for that matter, have to offer. I know your desperate need for all things X-Men has reached a fever pitch thanks to the new movie, but do yourself a favor and play X-Men Legends II instead. FullStory

Microsoft pulling back on Xbox 360 backwards compatibility support

When Microsoft was gearing up to release the Xbox 360, one of the biggest questions was whether or not the console will feature backwards compatibility of Xbox games. While it took Microsoft quite some time to make the announcement, Mortal Kombat: Deception was on the initial list of games to be backwards compatible and playable on the Xbox 360. FullStory

Sony Announces Adult Goods Brand
PlayStation Signature series to feature PSP-related accessories.

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has announced the start of a PlayStation-related goods brand for Japan. Called PlayStation Signature, this brand includes PSP related goods that target the more sophisticated and thick-pocketed gamer. FullStory

Microsoft execs slam Sony Blu-Ray strategy

Europe boss Chris Lewis and UK head Neil Thompson accuse Sony of “forcing” consumers to upgrade to unproven tech

The war of words between bitter rivals Microsoft and Sony has intensified, with top Xbox Europe execs launching an astonishing attack on the Japanese firm's decision to include its next-generation DVD technology in PlayStation 3 as standard.

Speaking to Eurogamer TV in part one of an exclusive E3 interview broadcast today, Xbox UK boss Neil Thompson and Europe boss Chris Lewis both accused Sony of “forcing” its Blu-Ray DVD technology onto consumers. FullStory

X-Men: The Official Game Cheats - PS2, Xbox, X360

Comic book games have been a bit lackluster as of late. Actually, I can recall when Wolverine's Revenge was coming out for Xbox, and my buddy Amutt thought it might make game of the year - needless to say that did not happen, or remotely have a chance at it. Somewhere in the mix of X-Men: The Last Stand movie being released, X-Men: The Official Game hit shelves as well. FullStory

New US Pokemon Names Revealed

As the release of both Pokemon Diamond and Pearl draws near, a few more of the English Pokemon names have been released. Joining the ranks of Munchlax (Snorlax’s pre-evolution) and Bonsly (Sudowoodo’s pre-evo), Manene (a Mr. Mime pre-evo) is now Mime Jr. and Manyula (a Sneasel pre-evo) is now Weavile. FullStory

Nintendo DS Lite Gets Its Own "Rumble Pak"

A new, smaller DS Rumble Pak cartridge will be available for the Nintendo DS Lite. FullStory

The low-down on Fullmetal Alchemist

OtakuZone pays homage to one of the anime masterpieces of our time, Fullmetal Alchemist.

IMAGINE a world where alchemy has evolved. Gone are the bubbling flasks and the whimsical quest to turn lead into gold. Instead, alchemy has become a powerful pseudo-science that allows gifted men and women to create both wonders and nightmares at their fingertips?.

These alchemists must remember one vital rule: to transmute something into another, they must sacrifice an object of equal value. FullStory

Japanese 'visual novels' come to Macintosh

Hirameki International is testing largely uncharted waters with Animamundi, a Japanese “visual novel” that’s now available in the United States and is, for the first time, available for the Macintosh. It’s part of Hirameki’s “AnimePlay PC” line, and it’s the first Mac-compatible titles from the company. Animamundi costs $39.99. FullStory

Review: Dragon Quest VIII - Journey of the Cursed King

The game begins rather simply with your hero, who is the sole unscathed survivor of an evil curse, travelling with an ugly barbarian and a short green monster. As you journey farther into this strange land you will gain even more allies while you follow the evil mastermind behind the curse, on his path of destruction. FullStory

Press Release
Score Entertainment announces Sonic X Card Game

May, 2006 (Dallas, TX) – Score Entertainment, a leading manufacturer of premium trading card games, announces the release of a new Sonic X Card Game.

Based on the immensely popular anime, Sonic X Card Game hits shelves September 14, 2006 at the suggested retail price of $9.99 per game box. Each package contains 110 cards plus rules. Building on the success of the Fruits Basket Card Game, Score Entertainment will present the Sonic X Card Game using its “Game-in-a-Box” business model. Everything that fans need to engage in two to four player games comes in a single package. There is no need to purchase additional boosters to enjoy the fast paced game-play.

In the Sonic X Card Game, players can play with Chris Thorndyke, Miles “Tails” Prower, Amy Rose, Knuckles the Echinda, Shadow the Hedgehog, Dr. Eggman, and of course—Sonic himself. Up to four players can compete for rings and collect Chaos Emeralds. The first to collect 3 Chaos Emeralds wins!

Sonic The Hedgehog is one of the most beloved video game characters of all time. Based on Naoto Ohshima’s original character design, Sonic replaced Alex Kidd as Sega’s official mascot in 1990. With his first release in 1991, Sonic took the company to meteoric heights. Sonic is as popular in mainstream entertainment as he ever was, with over 40 video game titles under his belt and countless television and film cameos. The “Blue Blur” celebrates his 15th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, Sonic charges onto Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii consoles later this year with even greater speed and a deeper storyline than ever before.

Today, Sonic The Hedgehog is one of the most recognizable video game characters in the world. Spearheading a billion dollar franchise, Archie Comics currently publishes a comic book with an animated show airing Saturday mornings on 4Kids. New episodes continue to broadcast in the US this year.

“The game engine is easy to pick up and hard to put down. Sonic enthusiasts will flock with undying devotion once they experience the frenetic pace of the game. This truly is a game for all ages that will bring out the child in all of us,” declared Garrett Wilkinson—self-proclaimed hedgehog fanatic and lead designer of the Sonic X Card Game.