More screens of Rockman Rebirth have surfaced, giving a more in-depth look to the battle system that has been given a complete makeover since the prequel Rockman EXE - known to the US and Europe as Megaman Battle Network. With the game's release, Capcom commemorates the 20th anniversary of our little blue robot friend. Capcom experienced a lot of success with the Megaman games on the GBA, so Rebirth should only be the start of a whole lot of new titles in the franchise.

Developed by the team responsible for Battle Network, Rebirth is a "Data Action RPG" and lets players battle against viruses and other malicious computer software with a variety of technical skills. A WiFi mode will also be included to allow players to fight against each other and trade items. A US release hasn't been confirmed yet, but looking at the past Megaman releases we're sure Rebirth will hit North American shelves at some point.

Of course, we'll update you on Rockman Rebirth again once Capcom reveals new information.

  

More screens await after the jump!

We've had speculations abound a while ago when BioWare published a poll asking gamers about their reaction to a possible handheld game by the legendary PC/Xbox developer - responsible for classics such as Baldurs Gate 1 & 2, Knights of the Old Republic as well as the upcoming Mass Effect. Looks like their plans have fully come to fruition now as BioWare today announced the forming of a new development division focusing on handheld games.

Games industry veteran Dan Tudge will be leading the group as a project director. His past work includes the overseeing of development of AAA Microsoft, Nintendo, THQ and Sega titles.

Nintendo fans will be excited to hear that the first game by the new team will be released for the DS. "As always, we are committed to creating the best story-driven games in the world, and the Nintendo DS offers us an exciting new platform to engage," commented Greg Zeschuk, president of BioWare. "The new project offers tremendous opportunities, and we're looking for talented and passionate developers to become part of that."

The Canadian development studio has also announced open employment positions on the new handheld team - you can check out the details on their website. Nothing specific is known about the upcoming game yet, but we'll make sure you'll get to read about new details as soon as they become available.

Everyone's favourite yellow sponge soon embarks on another portable adventure with the DS version of Spongebob Squarepants: Creature From The Krusty Krab. Players help Spongebob through nine visually unique levels, where they will stumble upon the five new gameplay aspects of Krusty Krab and they are the following:

• Rampaging through Bikini Bottom as gigantic plankton
• Flying through the dangerous jaw of of the enormous bull worm as Spongebob
  
• Surviving a hi-speed asteroid field as Patrick in outer space
  
• Becoming the hero of the seven seas as Starfishman
  
• Experiencing the energetic, smoke-filled world of Hot Rod racing.
  

Spongebob Squarepants: Creature From The Krusty Krab hits shelves on November 3. Check out more of the game's screens after the jump!

Pre-Order: [Spongebob Squarepants: Creatures from The Krusty Krab]

The ongoing triumph of the Nintendo DS really doesn't surprise us anymore, right? Still, it's worth noting when there's another success story to be told. Because Nintendo just announced that since the launch in March 2005, six million units of the sleek little handheld (including both Original and Lite versions) have reached the hands of Europeans.

Main reasons for the impressive numbers in Europe are the Touch! Generations range of games that attempt to appeal to non-gamers as well. Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is your Brain?, even surpassed the title's sales in Japan. More than 700,000 copies have sold across Europe since it’s launch, the majority of these to adults.

Another title in the Touch! Generations range, Nintendogs, has now shipped over 4 million copies in Europe alone since it's release in October 2005. Animal Crossing: Wild World managed to score over 850,000 copies.
Let's also not forget outstanding launch of the DS Lite that boosted the device's popularity to a peak. No surprise then when Nintendo says they have secured a lead in the handheld market with a 70% share of the market for eleven consecutive weeks. Also, they're boasting the fact that 44% of all DS consoles are sold to women, again demonstrating the wide target audience of the handheld.

With the Pink DS Lite soon arriving in Europe, together with a big number of potential smash hit titles, it doesn't look like DS fans have anything to worry about. What first was seen as a risky and needlessly inventive approach to handheld gaming turned out  one of the most successful consoles of all time. And when similar things will be said about the Wii in a few months, there'll be no doubts anymore - Nintendo has grabbed the crown of the video game industry again and won't be giving it away anytime soon.

UK publisher Lexicon Entertainment today announced the development of Glory Days 2 DS - Brotherhood Of Men. Sequel to a successful GBA game, Glory Days 2 seeks to provide player with intriguing Action/Strategy hybrid gameplay. They take control of one of two superpowers fighting each other, and deploy a variety of units, including tanks, helicopters, V2s, drones, bombers and paratroopers - all while the enemy does the same.

To gain the real edge in the battle, players will need to jump into one of their units themselves and fight the enemy forces. Glory Days 2 will heavily utilize the DS touch screen, which manages the strategic interface and also allows for precise direct control of any unit.

Battlefields in the game are placed in 8 different environments, and things like different weather settings allow for even more variety. Size-wise, they are 4 to 8 game kilometers big, sometimes filled with up to 250 ground units at once. An "intelligent" camera system will help players to never lose sight of the battle, always following the action on the ground.

The single-player campaign of Glory Days 2 comes with 16 missions, which should keep players occupied for a long time. But even after that, there's more: WiFi modes enable 2 to 8 players to either compete against each other or work as a team, where different objectives can be assigned to each participant.

Last but not the least, Glory Days 2 comes with "Optional 3D Glasses" and Lexicon promises that it will make the game even more exciting. The title's currently set for a release in Q1, priced at €29.99/$37.

See more of Glory Days 2 DS- Brotherhood of Men after the jump!

  

A new Square-Enix RPG for the DS has just been revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu. No, the first part of this article's title isn't an exclamation of joy (although, in light of this announcement, might work as that too) - it's the game's title, or in Japanese, Subarashiki Kono Sekai. Developed by the same Square-Enix team that was responsible for the Kingdom Hearts series, the game will feature prominent character design by Tetsuya Nomura and is set in a modern day world.

And that's all the information we have right now on this "Touch Action RPG", as the Famitsu article calls it. Take a look at the scan below and hope that It's A Wonderful World will be heading stateside as well - after all, we don't see Square Enix creating a completely new IP too often...

(Thanks to neo2046 at GAF for the scan & info!)

The prestigious Golden Joystick Awards are the oldest gaming awards and have taken place each year since 1982, when the video game industry was still in its infancy. The awards ceremony is anticipated by gamers in the UK (where the Golden Joystick Awards originated from) every time, and 2006 will not only turn out as the most successful year for the Golden Joystick Awards, it's also the time of the tightest head-to-head races as there are still no clear winners in most of the categories.

400,000 voters, more than twice more compared to last year, have voiced their favourite games as of now, an impressive number that easily smashed the organisers' expectations.

With console generations currently shifting and the new opponents all aiming for the top spot, gamers seem to be even more passionate to have their say in the Golden Joystick Awards. Voting's still open till Friday, October 12 and everything can still change.

Check the current top five ranking in each of the categories right after the jump!

   

We've got a ton of new screens from Castlevania: Portrait Of Ruin, Konami's sequel to the best 2D action game on the DS so far, Dawn Of Sorrow. One of the defining features of the new game will be the inclusion of new game areas outside the castle, accessible through portraits the player can step through.

Teamwork is heavily emphasized in this new Castlevania game, so the two protagonists - Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Orlean - will have to work together to solve puzzles and defeat certain enemies. Multiplayer WiFi modes will consist of the good old Boss Rush mode known from earlier entries in the series as well as a new shop mode that allows players to trade items and other things.

Portrait Of Ruin is currently scheduled for a release in November.

More screenshots await after the jump!

Majesco Entertainment wants to let the flour fly in Cake Mania, a new online game heading to the Nintendo DS. The game is based on a casual game by Sandlot Games of the same name. Cake Mania for the DS takes the same gameplay, which essentially boils down to manic cake-baking, and adds touch screen controls as well as a new appearance. The original online game and its expansion Back to the Bakery will also be included.

In Cake Mania, players jump into the role of Jill, who returns from culinary school to find her beloved grandparents' bakery closed down because a new Mega-Mart store opened in the neighborhood. The ultimate aim of the game is to earn enough money so that Jill can re-open her grandparents' bakery. This can only be achieved by serving the increasingly difficult customers and updating Jill's kitchen with new baking tools in over 80 levels.

All aspects of the gameplay will be handled via the touch-screen, from handing out menus and collecting cash, to baking, frosting and decorating cakes. In the later levels, Cake Mania promises to be as hectic as no other similar game, as more and more customers need to be served.

Cake Mania will be available in early 2007 for a mere $19.99. And if you think that a casual online game made into a DS title isn't worth the money, check out Magnetica which, in the end, turned out as a quite decent little game. So let's just hope the same will be true for Cake Mania.

A bunch of new screens from Yoshi's Island 2 have surfaced and the game's looking as good as ever. Artoon is developing the long-awaited sequel to one of the best 16-bit Jump' n runs. They work in close cooperation with Nintendo, so that the level of quality is retained. So far, the game seems to have all of the feats that made it's predecessor so great - unique, quirky level design and vivid cartoon visuals. The fact that it's part of the beloved Mario series doesn't hurt either.

Nintendo will release Yoshi's Island 2 on November 13.

More Yoshi's Island 2 screens after the jump!