It's a triple threat of bad news for those who live in Europe. News has been out that games such as Rising Star Games' No More Heroes, Dungeon Explorer: Warrior of the Ancient Arts, and Bomberman Land have been pushed back to new release dates. Find out when they'll be out after the jump!

Nintendo has revealed the titles coming to Europe in 2008 for the Nintendo Wii and DS platforms. Super Smash Bros. Brawl is nowhere in sight, but Mario Kart Wii and other big video games are expected to ship next year.

Find the list at the full article!

 

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!

Three titles debut to the top spots on the All Formats charts for the week ending in April 28. God of War II for the PS2 has been out in North America since March, but it's release in Europe has pushed all the other contenders aside as Kratos elbowed to number one. MMORPG Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar debuts at number two followed by The Elder Scrolls VI: Oblivion for the PlayStation 3.

Everybody else on last week's chart had to make room, though other titles clawed their way to the top and got spots overthrowing MotorStorm, Medal of Honor: Vanguard, and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars. Here's this week's list:

• God of War II (Sony Computer Entertainment
• Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (Codemasters)
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Ubisoft)
• Pokemon Ranger (Nintendo)
• TMNT: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Ubisoft)
• Harvest Moon DS (Rising Star Games)
• Virtua Tennis 3 (Sega)
• Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (Nintendo)
• Tiger Woods PGS Tour 07 (Electronic Arts)
• Diddy Kong Racing DS (Nintendo)

Diddy Kong Racing DS, the remake of the Nintendo 64 videogame by Rareware, debuts on the charts at number ten. LotRO: Shadows of Angmar is now the second fastest selling online videogame behind... (need we say it?) World of Warcraft. We'll see if Kratos and God of War II manages to stay on top next week. We'll keep you posted.

Another week ends and another dose of top videogames on the UK Chart Track for all formats. Last week's top dog (or should we say turtles?) TMNT has been usurped by Pokemon Ranger. Another DS title debuts in the top ten - Harvest Moon DS. Here's the list:

• Pokemon Ranger (Nintendo)
• TMNT: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Ubisoft)
• Harvest Moon DS (Rising Star Games)
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 (Electronic Arts)
• Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (Electronic Arts)
• Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 (CODEMASTERS)
• Virtua Tennis 3 (SEGA)
• Medal of Honor: Vanguard (Electronic Arts)
• UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 (Electronic Arts)
• MotorStorm (SCE)

Last week's number seven, Guitar Hero II fell off the charts to number 16. MotorStorm, a no-show in the previous top ten, was able to drag itself back to the last spot. A new entry in the charts, Hotel Dusk: Room 215 unfortunately failed to make it to the top ten. We'll see in the next few weeks whether sales eventually pick up.

Rising Star Games brings you this classic 1988 8-bit game to your 21st century handheld. New Zealand Story Revolution brings you the return of the lovable cult characters Tiki and Kiwi. With a load of new touch-screen-based mini-games, set out in adventure either as single player, or pitted against peers in the multiplayer feature.

The adventure revolves around Tiki rescuing his kidnapped friends from the villainous leopard seal. Now, to get to his friends, he'd have to go through a series of challenges that also has a healthy mix of Expert Modes, Normal Modes, and Multiplayer ones. And that's not all we have for you today.

Here are 50 spankin' new screenshots of Tiki and Kiwi in action. To see them live, get them on your DS.

44 more screens await after the jump!

  

It's been a while since we've heard anything from Rising Star Games' Bubble Bobble DS title. But after more than a month, the silence is now broken, as the company has finally released the first set of screenshots of Bubble Bobble Double Shot. Recreating the original title's frantic platforming gameplay, there are compact levels spread out across the DS screens. Of course, it isn't only the gameplay that remains loyal to the classic, but the aesthetics as well.

Says Martin Defries of Rising Star Games, "These first images from Bubble Bobble Double Shot show exactly how it pays homage to its forebears whilst taking advantage of the DS. ..Based on what can be seen here, we're confident that [it] will be the best handheld version... there has ever been."

But wait, this rendition will also have new features. As part of gameplay mechanics, you now will be able to switch character during play to take out certain colour-coded enemies. That, among many others.

You can catch this game by the first quarter of 2007.