Before the days of the PSP and the DS, only one name came to mind when it came to portable gaming - the Nintendo Game Boy. Since its launch in 1989, the Game Boy made its mark in the gaming industry, pioneering a new level in portable gameplay. For its contributions and millions of satisfied users, the Museum of Play has now honored the handheld by including it in its National Toy Hall of Fame.

We've got an even spread of game releases for this week's batch of On Shelves games, including a couple of downloadable ones. Big for handhelds this week would be Capcom's and Namco Bandai's brawler offerings on the PSP, Fate/Unlimited Codes (available via PSN) and Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny, respectively. Full list of game releases this week after the jump.

Time for that day of the week when you get all the biggest news and tidbits that came out the past weekend in QJ that you might have missed for one reason or another. There's a lot of GamesCom 2009 updates right here, nothing unusual about that given that the event opens next week. We also still have a healthy spate of rumors pertaining to the console price cuts, particularly because the NPD results are out, and it does look like it will take a mighty slash off the current prices to revitalize the scene. Not all would agree, however. Why don't you jump in and see for yourself what went down in your favorite blogs? We've got it all filled up to the brim for you.

It's time to rev up, racing fans. We've got a new video for you that gives you the skinny on everything you need to know about Electronic Arts' Need for Speed ProStreet (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS).

In the video, you'll find that Michael Mann, senior producer for the game, talking about what it means to be king of the streets. To earn that title, it seems, you've got to race against the best of the best in the different styles of racing, whether it be drift or drag racing. Not only that, but you have to race around the world against the elite in order to even have a shot against Ryo Watanabe, the Showdown King of Need for Speed ProStreet.

In any case, it's time to set your pulse racing. Do you have what it takes to bring down the kings of ProStreet? Find out in this video.

The Need for Speed ProStreet video after the jump!

 

For every ground-breaking title out there, there exists an unsung hero. They – like soldiers and bad sitcoms of old – are the miserable underdogs who never receive the due credit they deserve for their work. We're not talking about the developers -  we're talking about specialists - the (fictional) guys who work behind the scenes to ensure that the elements in whatever genre you play will always remain in tip-top condition, whether its your resident androgynous antagonist 's script, or your unfriendly neighborhood mook's marksmanship scores.

These guys will be the topic of today's quick list - along with an explanation with that special thing they do just to make the game better for one special individual - you. On to the list!
 
1. Sephiroth's acting coach
Let's be honest - Sephiroth isn't that original. More than one anime, manga, and J-RPG can boast its own brew of silver-haired, bad-ass sword-wielding bishie hotness, with Sephie being just a part of this popular trend. What sets him apart, however, is execution (acting, not Aeris…).
 
Sephiroth's dark foreboding lines and steely glare will haunt many a gamer's dreams, and for this, we can thank the man's ever-capable acting coach. We're talking the drama-guru who made Sephiroth walk the walk, talk the talk - the dude who probably taught him captivatingly cheesy one-liners like "Shall I give you despair?"
 
I'm afraid you haven't, Mr. Sephiroth's Acting Coach. You did give plenty of fanboys/girls something to think about for their next few - err - dreams, though...
 
Special accreditation goes to Cloud's hairdresser.

The rest of the list is available in the Full Article

A recent NPD group report gave a detailed demograph of 11,638 gamers aged between 6 to 44. The reports have shown that hardcore gamers are the biggest spenders, which is exactly unexpedted. What will surprise most though is the percentage of purchases and population of each majority group that the company split the consumers into.

NPD decided to group each gamer into one of six categories: Avid PC Gamers, Secondary Gamers, Avid Console Gamers, Mass Market Gamers, Casual Kid Gamers, and Heavy Gamers.

The avid PC gamers are those who average at least 13.6 hours per week primarily on a PC or Macintosh. These guys are the biggest of the group and consists of 33% of the population. Their average purchases per quarter? A disappointing 1.4 games.

Next up we have the Secondary Gamers which clock in around 6.5 hours of gaming on mostly a PC or a Mac. A third of these people also own the PlayStation 2. They make-up 22 percent of the US gaming population, the second largest group, and yet buy an average of only 0.8 games each quarter.

Among the console gamers, the largest by far are the so called Avid Console Gamers with a population of 20%. These individuals log in about 10.7 hours a week of gaming time on one console. They possess an average of 1.6 consoles and 0.8 portables. They are also the second biggest spenders, buying an average of 1.9 games per quarter.

Want to read more on this, click on the full article for more!

 

Sequels almost always never work for some reason. Maybe it's the gaping chasm that their predecessors made that they have to inevitably fill, or maybe something changed along the way that turns out for the worse, and lets down an expectant audience. Rarely does a sequel (and sequels after that) really manage to capture the magic of the first - but when that does happen, it's a cause for celebration.

This is the review of Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! 2, the sequel that IS.

The full review after the jump!

Over at Acidmods, there's a new mod making the rounds and looking pretty cool while doing so. It's called the DS Lite Sound Reactive Mod, and it's made by Rocky.

The sound reactive mod basically allows the DS to light up in time with any sound your DS is currently playing. It requires some soldering and a handy knowledge of amp chips and LEDs, so it's definitely not for beginners. Still, this modification would work wonders with a run of Elite Beat Agents.

It's still in development stages though, but there's already a tutorial up for those who want to learn. You can find it at the Read link, as well as view a demonstration of the mod below.

Let's get something out of the way first. Yes, I know this article's pretty late, since both games have been out for quite a while already. But as I'm one of the handful of Pokemaniacs here at QJ, I jumped at the chance to make my first Poke-centric article as soon as it appeared, much like pressing Down + B at the same time to ensure that legendary catch.

The author would also like to apologize for any rampant geekouts beforehand, and will pick up the few remaining shreds of his dignity after the article.

In any case: on with the review!

The entire article right after the jump!

European gamers, get ready to to put your Pokemon skills to the test. Nintendo has announced that Pokemon Ranger will be launching across Europe this Friday.

For the first time in the history of the series players will be able to take on the role elite Pokemon Ranger. Along the way, players must learn to harness the powers of captured wild Pokemon to solve whatever problems they encounter. In their new role, Pokemon fans get to take part in a series of exciting and increasingly challenging missions.

In Pokemon Ranger, players get to control the game entirely through the Nintendo DS handheld gaming system's touch screen and stylus. To capture wild Pokemon, players must draw a circle around them. This challenge can also vary depending on the size and the strength of the target Pokemon.

The are also numerous sub-quests available in the game. More than 200 Pokemon are waiting to be caught - including legendary Pokémon such as Kyogre, Groudon and Rayquaza - in Pokémon Ranger.