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.

July 7, 2009 - This marks the day of Namco Bandai's completion of purchase of Atari's global PAL distribution operation. And since there's new blood infused, it's just right to have a new name to go by: Namco Bandai Partners.

There were already a few signs hinting that Atari was having some trouble holding on to the Dragon Ball franchise. A couple of years ago, the publisher clashed with FUNimation over the game license. Namco Bandai announced last month that it had secured publishing rights to three new entries in the franchise. Today, Namco Bandai has announced that it's finishing what it started.

For the weekend directly leading up to the E3 event, it sure was jampacked with news, wasn't it? If you've been hanging around the industry for a while now, you'd know that the usual occurrence during this time of the year (or whenever there is an event, actually), is to have some kind of drought in news. But no, not this year. Everyone's just as pumped up about the upcoming event, it didn't matter if the news that came out were more on the rumors and speculations and "leaks" side. We don't mind. We know we're in for the big stuff. Are you ready?

Last year, Phil Harrison made quite a ruckus when he severed ties with SCEI as their president, and then jumping on board Atari's team, via parent company Infogrames,  to serve as President. Today, however, we receive word that he will be stepping down from the position, and will assume instead a non-executive Director role.

This is a rather unique position we are in. The E3 is nearing, and yet we've got just about the biggest surge we've had the past couple of months. Okay, that might well be an exaggeration, but still. You gotta agree with me when I say it was a busy past week, yes? Rumors, confirmation of rumors, and surprising - yet at the same time not-so-surprising - NPD results for this month all proved to be the cherry on top for this game-filled, fun-filled week. Hmmm.. imagine all those cherries on top.... Dig in, then.

Two years ago, Atari Europe was fortunately in the safe zone, despite the mother company's grim and disheartening financial report of Q2 2007. Back then, the problem was isolated only to the US offices, and the Atari branch was said to be unharmed by the restructuring overseas. Today, however, Atari Europe is no more, now having been officially acquired by Namco Bandai.

Aww, and I was so gearing up to see some Ghostbusters PSP action in E3! With a sudden turn of events (and to think it's so last minute, with only three weeks left before the actual event), Atari has announced that they're pulling out from this year's gaming event - and no, it's not really because of Swine Flu concerns.

It was a tough week, alright, with the QJ team having to contend with a lot of fakers, a last-minute faking ourselves, and me personally now having to protect myself against some wicked magic of the black kind for leading people to believe that now is the best time to buy a Phantasy Star Portable - cos you know, news broke out that the PSP Brite has finally been hacked -- on April Fool's day. Yeah-huh, being fun sure is a lot of hard work. Thank goodness we've got juicy, exciting news from our friends in the gaming industry to balance it all out. And we've got them bundled up all nice and warm for you in ish #66 .

Defeating a marshmallow man probably doesn't match up to facing down the Locust Hord, but it does give you points. In fact, the Ghostbusters video game will be like Gears of War "Lite," says the game's producer, Garrett Moehring.

Details after the link.