Last month, there were rumors that a new version of Nintendo’s DS handheld gaming device was on its way. Today, IGN learned that the rumor is most likely true, and that we should be seeing the new version by April or May of next year.

Rumored changes include touchpad functionality on both screens, and a wider screen aspect ratio. There is no word yet on whether the next version will just be a revision, or a completely new DS. Meanwhile, Sony is already on it’s third version of it’s PSP console.

Here are some user mockups of what the new DS might look like:

Leipzig is almost over, but the 2009 event has already been scheduled. Wolfgang Marzin, CEO, claims Leipzig 2009 will be held August 19-23.. in Leipzig obviously. GC 08 also beat it’s previous record for amount of visitors. This year GC 08 attracted over 203,000 people in a 4 day period. It also attracted 234 software and hardware companies, up from 189 last year.

In a survey of visitors, it was also found that over 90% believed there should be another Games Convention in 2009. The general consensus may be different for other events like E3, whom have limited the number of attendees drastically.

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A new Viewtiful Joe Sequel may be on it’s way according to Christian Svensson, Capcom’s Corporate Officer.

“There’s no ‘percentage chance’ that I could give you [Viewtiful Joe this generation] that would at all be accurate. If it strikes someone of influence (a producer of note, Inafune, Takeuchi, perhaps even me) that it’s something that has potential (both gameplay and sales) then it could happen. If not, it won’t. I can’t predict who might or might not see that potential.”

Of course it all depends on it’s ability to show it’s potential. Read the full story

According to the NPD Group, Video Game sales in July have risen nearly 28 percent since last year, and 35 percent year-to-date. Sales have reached $1.19 billion.

Hardware sales have also seen a positive trend this year, up 17 percent since last year according to the NPD group, for a grand total of $446.9 million in sales.
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Spore promises to be one of the biggest hits of 2008 — completely original, and fun the whole family can enjoy! (well, unless you’re a fundamentalist Christian) Here’s why spore will be awesome and why you should pick it up in about 3 weeks on September 5th. Read the full story

As we all know Call of Duty 4 is best shooter of 2007, and probably 2008, thus far. So you’re saying: “It’s a Call of Duty game, of course it’s going to be awesome. What’s the big deal?” Unfortunately there are several differences between Call of Duty 4 and Call of Duty 5. The first and most important difference is that COD5 isn’t being developed by same people who developed Call of Duty 4. Rather, by a developer with questionable experience… The second major difference is the time period that the game is placed in — World at War will be set during World War 2, specifically in the Pacific arena. So much for progression, eh? And finally we question Treyarch’s ability to simultaneously develop for 5 very different platforms. Can one developer really deliver all the features they’ve promised including online co-op, and most importantly — flamethrowers for 5 platforms?
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