Japan gets all the good limited edition PS3 systems. Even the ones that keep the same base color but have some kind of logo screened on it are better than what we usually get. This new one for Namco Bandai’sTales of Xilliais one of the best yet, though. It’s all gold and red and pretty. It’s allTails-y. This system will be released on Tales of Xillia’s launch date, September 8th.Kotakusays that the bundle (system and game) will be priced at 37,980 yen, or about $470....

Folks sad that Eden Games’Test Drive Unlimited 2has beenpushed out to 2011take heart; the developer is taking the time to make sure it’s in tip-top shape for its release. It’s been announced today that the closed beta for the open world racer has begun. According to a press release, “an elite group of dedicated beta testers” have been chosen to put the game through its paces. The testers have apparently been chosen based on their experience with racing titles and their love of games....

With Tokyo Game Show 2009 in the bag, organizer CESA is already looking at dates for next year’s show. It looks like they’re eying a mid-September show, either from September 16 through September 19, or the shorter September 17 through September 19. CES had considered a three day show for 2009, but ultimately decided to stretch it out for four days. This year’s attendance was said to be down by nearly 10,000 heads this year, so a three day show — one open for industry/press, two for the public) doesn’t seem like an unlikely move....

Foreverything we lovedabout the playable demos ofFinal Fantasy XIIIat this year’s Tokyo Game Show, there was bound to be a few things that didn’t jive with us. Nothing’s perfect, as they say. Square Enix’s next big thing is shaping up to be great, but we had a few gripes after our demo sessions this week. I will say now that I don’t think that any of these below listed items are deal breakers....

Does my arm hurt because I’ve been typing at pre-TGS events all day? Or is it because Ryu is all doubled over with that bloody, scarred arm of his, and that I’m the kind of guy that gets sympathy pain. He has the blood of the thousands he has killed on his hands. Literally. I’ve just got a bit of a hangnail. Your arm is going to hurt come early 2012, as that’s whenNinja Gaiden 3will be released for the Xbox 360 and PS3....

Batman returns to games withArkham Cityand Game Informer is showing us the goods in the next issue. Until then, check out the awesome cover featuring Catwoman. We brought you another look atMetroid: Other M,BioShock 2gets some more single-player content, True Crime: Hong Kongis coming out in 2011 now, watch Ben PerLee rap in the newDef Jam Rapstartrailer and more happened on 08/05/10.Community:Community blogs of 08/05/10 Previews:Getting that retro feeling with Metroid: Other MContests:Win an Xbox 360 Slim and Madden NFL 11...

This is a movie called Hesher. It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman. It looks insane. ViaFlixist. Chad is now in charge of the features on Dtoid, the latest episode of Bit Transmission is finally out, Dale reviewedNeed for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed, we reviewedDishwasher: Vampire Smile, Max checked outLEGO Pirates of the Caribbeanfor the 3DS, the Sun is a horrible newspaper,Minecrafthas made over $33 million and more happened on 4/6/11....

GoNintendo sure do come across some great eBay auctions. Today,they’ve come acrossthisextremely rare light guncalled the Mult-Purpose Arcade Combat Simulator (M.A.C.S. for short). The M.A.C.S. were designed by the Military to train soldiers in bootcamp back in the day. The gun was designed to look and feel like a real M16 and only worked with a specially designed game cartridge. Players would have to be about seven feet back from the T....

Contra III: The Alien Wars Sometimes videogame moments don’t have to be emotionally powerful or include some major plot twist to seal a place in your memory forever. Honestly, sometimes they just have to beawesome. And by “awesome” I pretty much mean just that: moments that make your jaw drop because they are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Usually these are the kind of moments you never dreamed possible in a videogame and, upon viewing, result in an “Oh my gosh, youhaveto see this!...

Final Fantasy V Sound is something that is sometimes overlooked and almost always underappreciated in videogames. Not music, mind you, but actual soundeffects. While everyone may know the classicSuper Mario Bros.theme, the game would never be the same without the memorable sounds of jumping or collecting coins. It’s not that people don’tappreciatethese sounds effects by any means, it just seems they go a little unnoticed when compared to all the other pieces that make a videogame great....

Or maybe a ninja Hiroshima (as a commenter on Japanator suggested)? I don’t know, the guy doing the nuking was a terrorist of sorts, rather than an enemy army, so I’m still inclined to 9/11 analogy. Anyway, here’s a new trailer out forNaruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, and it’s super-dramatic, even featuring those quick cuts to black screens with the developer name in plain text. Of course, it’s all ruined by the narrator that comes on after that, but there’s gameplay footage in there, so it’s a net positive....

I thought we had left all these plastic add-ons forWii Sportsin the past. Consumers had smartened up and we weren’t supposed to see them as much anymore. But it seemsthe opposite is true; consumers are just getting dumber. At least ifCTA Digital’s newest accessory,the Wii Bowling Ball, sells well it will mean that. I mean you had to challenge yourself a bit to break your television with a Wii Remote, but picking up this blue ball of glass destroying power is simply asking to put a large crack in whatever you swing it at....

While working on the most epicYTMND everthis past Thursday, I came across thisYTMNDthat had the comic seen above. Who would have ever guessed that Sonic is blue because of the cobalt effect! You know, the cobalt effect! It’s when shock waves hit you when you smash into the sound barrier, duh! Apparently, this comic also explains the origins of Dr. Robotnik. Which happens by the doctor holding an egg and getting hit by lightning …...