Final Fantasy. One that’s not a PS2 game. Going into my PS3. Finally. Well, notfinallyfinally. It’s not the full game yet. We’re talking about theFinal Fantasy XIIIdemo packaged in with theFinal Fantasy VII Advent Children CompleteBlu-ray package, which was just released in Japan this week. We’ve put the demo through its paces several times now, and we’re ready to talk about it a bit. So get ready for more weather-based names and swords and guns....

Project Needlemouseis Sega’s most top secret project. So top secret, in fact, that the people who created the game’sfirst teaser trailerdon’t even know what it’s about! Having been given only the thinnest shreds of information regarding Sonic’s return to 2D, Integrated Alchemy Media had to get fans pumped without even knowingwhatthey were pumping us for. Here’s an account of the ad company’s dealing with Sega onProject Needlemouse: SEGA came to Integrated Alchemy Mediawithout a game, without a title, without a logo,without a character, and with a challenge: Make fans of Sonic the Hedgehog excited about his return in the game you’re not going to show....

Back in your school days, did you ever use the phrase “get out of my bathtub” on the swingsets? This weird phrase refers to two people swinging in sync. What the hell does that mean anyway? Regardless, the DS is in the PSP’s bathtub this week, according toMedia Create hardware sales numbers. The number two selling system, PlayStation Portable, is sold pretty even with the Nintendo DS last week in Japan....

Just a little reminder to you all that theFinal Fantasycontestwill be ending tomorrow at 11:59 p.m. You all still have plenty of time to write up whatever you want to write so long as it has something to do withFinal Fantasy. Two copies ofFinal Fantasy 1for the PSP and two limited edition T-shirts are up for grabs. Please be sure to make your story as a Community Blog entry, have the title of your post start with “FF Contest:”, it be longer than three paragraphs and have at least one image to support your story....

As 2008 wraps up, we look to get our unrealistic hopes up for 2009’s list of hot games, with Capcom’sResident Evil 5leading the charge. Promotion for the title is ramping up and to celebrate, we bring you news that a comic book based on Chris Redfield’s racist adventures is on its way. In fact, there are two comics, both coming from DC WildStorm. First up is theofficial comic book prequeltoRE5. This 32-page miniseries will show how Chris made his prejudiced way to Africa and why he hates black people so much....

We already knew thatResident Evil 5was going to take a viral approach with the debut of theCeremony video, but who ever expected to see Chris go on a hot sunrise date with a sexy Asian chick in the next installment? You wouldn’t need viral video to sell me this game, but I do agree that it generates some fun buzz, and it leaves me wondering what the next one (if there is another) could be like....

It’s safe to say that everyone at Destructoid is a big supporter ofRetro City Rampage, the upcoming XBLA homage to retro gaming. After all, the editors are playable characters in-game alongside Mr. Destructoid himself. So of course Tara and Conrad got some hands on time with the game and OF COURSE they grabbed Brian Provinciano, the game’s creator, for an interview. If it’s a pop culture reference worth making, it’s probably inRetro City Rampage....

Rght around the time that WiiWare was just becoming known to the public, a little company in New Hampshire called Medaverse Studiosannouncedthat they would be jumping in on the fun with a game calledGravitronix. About a year and a half after the initial release expectation, the game hit the service a couple of weeks ago. I’ve spent some time with it and my thoughts on the game are written below the fold....

Pull down your lap bars and empty your pockets into the safety pouch, because the next major installment in theRollerCoaster Tycoonseries is coming to the 3DS. Developed by n-Space, the folks responsible for theCall of DutyDS titles and the upcomingHeroes of Ruinon 3DS, the newRollerCoaster Tycoonis being built from the ground up with plenty of exclusive assests to take advantage of touch controls and 3D viewing. In addition to constructing coasters — suspended, hydraulic, wooden, steel, and inverted styles will be available — you’ll be able to handle all aspects of amusement park management, right down to hiring a janitorial staff....

Joystiq is reporting that they have an unnamed source claiming Microsoft has a new controller for the Xbox 360 in development. According to this source, the controller will feature a redesigned directional pad which raises up a quarter of an inch when rotated ninety degrees. I assume that such a design would offer some measure of resistance and give feedback to the player then making a rotational move, such as in a fighting game....

According to a shady but detailed looking spreadsheet that’s been spread around online, Sony has a few surprises up its PlayStation Network sleeve. Among the titles listed on this mysterious and allegedly leaked list of European PSN releases are titles likeRatchet: Quest for Booty,Lair: Diabolical Dragons, andThe Last Guy. Yep, I’ve never heard of them either, and I know things about stuff that I’m not supposed to know about! The list also shows a pretty huge month for April, including aResistance 2trailer and what looks like thePixelJunk Monstersexpansion pack, calledPixelJunk Monsters Encore....

Fangs. Vampires and bears have them. Avril Lavigne also, apparently, has them. But not for long. The 23-year-old singer/songwriter, best known for terrorizing theBurnout Paradisesoundtrack with her single “Girlfriend,”is reportedlya bit fang-shy. So much so that she plans on having considerable dental work done to de-fang herself. Hell, is there a procedure I can get done that wouldgiveme fangs? Send your videogame-related news and tips to[email protected]… because we’ll keep holding on, ’cause you know we’ll make it through (we’ll make it through)....

In case you hadn’t heard, Konami is making a brand newRush n’ Attackgame, following what must have been a successful digital remake of the original game.Rush n’ Attack: Ex-Patriotis a 2.5D platformer which delivers what you’d expect from aRush n’ Attacktitle — lots of killing. It also brings a few new gimmicks to the table. Players will no longer just be running from left to right, praying they get a gun because their knife is so shitty....