While the release of Halo 3 saw sales breaking the $300 Million mark, Rockstar Games is expecting to surpass $400 Million in sales with hitmaker Grand Theft Auto IV, hitting stores this week.

Because of the pre-sale programs and long term selling ability, the Grand Theft Auto games (I, II, III, Vice City, IV) are the top sellers in the market despite the M (Mature) Rating and excess violence.

image via Image.com

In an effort to help promote FIFA Street 3, EA Sports teamed with Ryan Geez (and it looks like 4 other artists) to issue a promotional ball.  Looks like Ryan Geez went with a basketball inspired ball to play off the whole street thing as much as possible. It appears that they are giving these balls away, and that all you need to do is answer some fairly simple questions that any soccer fan will know. For more info and to enter to win a ball, head here now.

Source Vapors Magazine and Hypebeast 

This video just took me back 4th Avenue on a hot summer day in Cali back in the early 90’s.  You?

X-Box 360 and Grand Theft Auto have put together a pretty sick collabo for “Promotional Purposes”, aka not available to the public.

While Microsoft has delivered this limited edition pack with the game console in it’s own briefcase and full of accessories, the game won’t hit the streets until April 29th.

image vie Hypebeast

I have become a recent Wii owner after my girl got me one for my birthday, and I gotta tell you it is a lot of fun. I didn’t know this, but they even have FIFA for it. I haven’t played it yet, but game on when we have our next BBQ. Anyhoo, I now love Wii and Nintendo even more. I just came across this “Wiinebago Wiimbledon” tournament that they are putting on. Basically they are driving a Wiinebago (notice the spelling) across the country and they will be challenging people on their way to San Francisco in what is dubbed as the 2nd Annual Wiimbledon (see spelling again) Tournament.

Here is a description direct from their site:

“The plan: Leaving the first week in June, we’ll ‘Bago it Madden-style cross-country, stopping here and there for mini-tournaments, and gas, and probably your couch. We’ll hit SF June 20th.”

I love this approach and you can most likely find me at one of their events on the way to San Francisco giving it my all.

Before reading this you must watch the :30 second clip above. If you watched the video above, then you have to be asking yourself–Did I really believe this was fun? Honestly, I used to wake up at 5 am to run downstairs to play soccer on Nintendo on a 13 inch TV—

The truth is, as a little kid it didn’t get better. To me these graphics, this game, NES—this was the pinnacle of gaming!! As we all know the original NES is now a “classic” and the graphics comical, but that is where I came from. I am actually lucky enough to have a brother who, somewhat obsessively, collected these 8 bit masterpieces and throughout the years has amassed a collection of over 300+ games. Some of them–absolute timeless classics: Metroid, Tetris, Contra, Zelda–some not quite so well known: Wall Street Kid, Klax, and Qix.

Now as a 30 yr old “adult” I look back at those games, and as soon as I sit down and begin to enter the Contra code I cant help but feel 12 again! Did anything compare to settling in to a 2 player game of Contra with your best friend with 30 lives at your disposal? Do you remember you couldn’t go too far ahead on the waterfall level or else it would kill your partner?? I guarantee that anyone reading this who EVER played contra is reciting the code in their head!! Obviously gaming has changed since then as I sit in front of my Wii and throw a vicious tennis backhand towards my massive 60 inch TV, but I will never forget being 12 without a care in the world holding that 2 button controller tethered to that grey box 2 feet from that screen.

We all have our own favorite Nintendo games–and of course techniques to get the games to work (blow in it, lick it, bang it on the ground). Now this Nintendo technology may be obsolete and time may have caught up to me in age, but my youth will never escape me! Anyone out there who needs a reality check, and a sip from the fountain of youth, find a friend with a Nintendo and sit down for 20 minutes and I challenge you not to smile as you duck down that first pipe on Mario Bros, or hold the “zapper” in your hand for a shot at Duck Hunt.

I know we are all adults and most of us overly concerned with our “real world lives”, but it never hurts to take a few minutes and remember being a kid again–I promise you that. If you can’t find a Nintendo just log on to youtube and search for some of your old NES favorites…watch them for a few seconds. You will not be disappointed.

Joe

image via Electronista

Word on the street is that with everything going on in the technology world in regards to video games and the future, PlayStation is going to drop the new, sexier PS3 in late 2008.  Hmmm, just in time for Xmas?

image via Tech Digest

Teaming up with India’s Jump Games, Manchester United has announced a deal to produce 6 mobile phone games that will be available for 3 Euro per title.  Look for the first to be available in April.

Everybody has one…that one friend who conquers every video game they play. The one that beats you every time you play against him, no matter what game it is. For me, that dude is my boy Wes. He has this natural ability to master video games, and to smash me every time we play. For the gamer that sounds like Wes, I introduce you to the  Console Wars I pin form Supermandolini.  With the old school Nintendo controller placed squarely in the middle of this medal, everyone will know “the gamer’s” got mad skills when he (or she) wears this to the next gaming convention. Pick one up for your favorite gamer here