Craving for a smidgen of classic gaming? Don't fret, because we have a nice video of classic-style Bomberman from Atlus and Hudson Soft's Bomberman Land 2 Touch!: Star Bomber's Miracle World. This video of the Battle Mode gameplay showcases everything from ye olde Bomberman from the NES days that we knew and loved.

New elements have also been added like the Dark Mode where players blast their way with limited vision, as well as a mode that throws bombs between the two DS screens. It sure looks a delight, so don't tarry and click on the play button on the video below.

Bomberman is back, and this time he and his friends are checking out the circus. Touch! Bomberman Land 2: Star Bomber's Miracle World from Hudson Soft sports a theme park motif, jam-packed with tons of fun mini-games including unicycling, rafting, tightrope walking, a Dance Dance Revolution-like game, and fishing among tons of other fun activities.

The game also introduces Star Bomber, a white tuxedo-clad bomber who appears to be the head honcho presiding over the theme park. He can be seen helping with the quests, perform magic, and even turn Bomberman into various objects.

Of course, a Bomberman title can't be without the classic wall-smashing, pyromaniac version. The classic Bomberman mode includes what could be called a "dark mode", where the player is only granted limited sight of the surroundings, and a mode where the stage makes use of both Nintendo DS screens.

There's more to find out that's better seen than read, so don't hesitate to click on the Play button for the video below!

 

UK-based Rising Star Games has signed a co-publishing agreement with industry veteran Hudson Soft. The deal covers seven games to be released from 2007-2008. The games are said to be for various platforms which include Sony's PSP, Nintendo DS, and even the Wii.

This deal boosts Rising Star Games into the realm of the "major players" of publishing video games. It should be noted that this deal has allowed the company to publish its first Wii game. The Managing Director and COO of Rising Star Games Mr. Martin Defries was obviously very happy about this deal saying:

This is a significant partnership for Rising Star Games and a further endorsement that the values and business plan of the company are spot on; we are delighted. The line up from Hudson is fantastic and we are honoured to be part of the reintroduction of Hudson to Europe along with the games it brings.

This enthusiasm was shared by Hudson Soft as well. Hudson Soft is very well known among gamers everywhere with classics such as Adventure Island and Bomberman under their extensive list of IPs. The Head of Europe Business and Global Business Division of Hudson Soft Co. Ltd. Mrs. Hiromi Tomisawa spoke about the partnership and the confidence they have about their new business partner:

We are very happy to have the opportunity to work with Rising Star Games. They are an experienced hand at managing the very best in Japanese games for release in Europe and have a dynamism that matches our goal to return the Hudson brand to Europe once again. We have an exciting multiformat line up of titles and look forward to this partnership building.

We're pretty excited about this deal despite the fact that the specifics on the games to be released have yet to be disclosed. However, we're pretty sure that both companies won't be keeping these games under wraps for a long time. Europe based gamers rejoice, Hudson Games is back in your area and it looks like they're planning on sticking around for a while.

With all the hubbub about big announcements, here's something else to celebrate: Hudson Soft, the games-developing firm responsible for timeless classics such as Bomberman and Adventure Island, is finally making a comeback in Europe after several years of absence.

Everything's still hush-hush, of course, but rumor has it that the veteran company is actually teaming up with Rising Star Games, a publisher that's more or less new to the scene.

If the rumors ring true, then this is quite good news indeed, as Hudson Soft is also rumored to be getting a dedicated HQ in the UK. This could mean a renewed surge of games that has that distinct Hudson flavor -  or better yet, a new Bomberman title that actually sticks to its roots. We can only hope. Updates as they happen!

Is there any particular video game that still haunts you up to this very day? One that, if you died today, you'll be sure to be earthbound because of this one "unfinished business"? Okay, so that was morbid. But that pretty much drove the point home now, didn't it?

I first got introduced to the wonderful world of gaming consoles through the NES, otherwise known as the Family Computer in Japan. Now this little wonder brought me some very fond and special memories growing up, thanks to its wholesome and now-retro 8-bit graphics. Games like Galaga, Battle City, Twinbee, Contra, and of course, the immortal Super Mario Bros. kept me company during stale afternoons, with ignored chocolate-covered donuts sitting beside me across our living room floor.

And then came a whole new generation of gaming consoles. Handhelds like the Game Boy and its successors, and even the simplistic Game & Watch, to the more powerful modern consoles we have today, all played a part - no matter how minute - in my formative years. They certainly kept me off the streets, for sure. I guess I only have them to blame for my not having developed that "streetsmart" gene in my system.

Even after all those games and gaming machines, however, I still couldn't let go of that one NES game that I never got to finish: Adventure Island.

Not that I didn't find the adventures of Master Higgins interesting or exciting enough for my own amateur taste, back then. But with the onslaught of newer game titles coming along, and with the irrational, almost neurotic desire of finishing a level without any scratch or bruise or diminished life for my Master Higgins, I did not realize that I had slowly and unwittingly pushed it to the back of the game shelves.

And then I got busy with other things - Tetris, Metroid, school, dates, friends, sneak-outs at night, the X-Files, Castlevania, high school prom, college admissions, Need for Speed Underground, Sex and the City... and good ol' Master Higgins remained in the webbed corner of my consciousness. Not to be disturbed, and more importantly, never to disturb me. Until we met again, that is.

Read on to see if we share the same hang up experience over that one unfinished game, and to see what else is on QJ's list by clicking on Full Article!

 

Weekends usually means slow news days, so we'll help you pass the time with a brief look at recent gaming related rumors. First up, something that appeals to the testosterone-laden. German gaming news site GameFront.de reports that in the rumor column in the latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM), it was speculated that Team Ninja is working on a PS3 iteration of the Dead or Alive franchise.

Other rumors reported include speculations that game developer Hudson Soft is working on a version of Bonk for the Wii and the Nintendo DS; Capcom's making a remake of the original Megaman solely for the PlayStation Network; Level 5's Professor Layton for the PSP is coming to North America; and, NIS's Disgaea series is coming to the PS3.

Surprising to see a lot of rumors on planned games for Sony and Nintendo recently.

Before we end this, we'll leave you with something interesting. It was noted in the same rumor column that the next Kingdom Hearts will be a spin off, and that it will appear on a "Hearty Console". Take that as you will.

The independent game development studio Saber Interactive, who is responsible for video games like TimeShift and Will Rock, is happy to announce that it just hired one of the industry's veterans to head Saber's game content division. That guy is Rick Raymo and he sure has a lot under his belt.

Raymo has been working in the video game industry for 19 years now, and about 30 titles are credited under his name. Some of the more notable ones include Duke Nukem 3D projects, Blood, Shadow Warrior, Death Rally and Max Payne. The creative director also used to work with companies such as I.D.G., GT Interactive, GameSpy, Red Jade, Interactive Studio Management, and Hudson Soft. Before Rick Raymo accepted his new post at Saber, he was working with HBO Interactive Entertainment as a production executive, and was responsible for spearheading efforts to create interactive properties out of the company's internal licenses.

Saber's new guy wasn't able for comment, but the company mentioned that Rick Raymo is more than happy to join them. He will be stationed at Saber's HQ in New Jersey and from time to time, he will also be making his rounds in Saber's production studio in St. Petersburg, Russia. Most of his work will be focused on the design and production team who are working on current and upcoming next generation titles.

Welcome aboard Saber's ship Rick Raymo!

This classic from Hudson Soft is still at it with all new screenshots. Released for the DS in North America on November 20 of last year, Bomberman Land Touch is still sporting its fresh puzzle-games approach.

Yep, this ain't the regular drop-'em-bombs-and-scoot-to-safety version. So, for you all pyromaniacs out there, if you think it's just about firing up some craters for some hidden goodies, sorry, but you'll have to exert a little more effort than just that. So, for all of you who have yet to grab a copy of these, and for those who just got their DS handhelds fresh off your holiday stash, here are the screenies for your viewing pleasure. And maybe, you'd like it enough to get a copy, eh?

More follows after the jump!

It won't be another month more before we get a real taste of Bomberman Land Touch adventure, courtesy of Hudson Soft. DS gamers who've been wanting to learn more about the game and maybe surf the English version of the website can now check it out, as Atlus U.S.A. Inc. has just announced that it's now up and running, with a lot of features to boot.

The site lets you surf using the stylus, simulating a real one on the DS. You can find tabs where Character, Modes, Areas, Nintendo DS Features, Interview (with game designer and director Gen Suzuki), Trailer, Download, and Message Board can be found. The game allows for 8-player action using only one DS Card, and 4 players using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection feature. Here, the first Bomberman Battle Pack contains all the classic multiplayer modes, along with more than 30 challenging mini-games.

The stylus lets you control everything: menus, the field, attractions. Bomberman's speed and direction will depend on your stylus touch and you can also speak with a person by touching the icon above him. Sounds neat!

All the adventure happens in the pirate-themed Bomberman Island Park. You beat all the challenges to become Pirate King with Cheerful White and his friends tagging along. The game gets shipped to North America on November 7.