In a recent entry made on the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website, it seems like side-scrolling addicts will be getting a treat in the near future as the organization gave an E rating for Irem's R-Types title for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable. This bundled version based on the classic R-Type shooter title will soon be making its way as a digital download on the PlayStation Network service. More details about the game in our full article.

The latest NPD sales figures are out, and while it certainly looks like there's going to be a major change in its regularly Nintendo-dominated scenery soon, there's a lot of questions that need to be answered. Thankfully, NPD's own Anita Frazier is here to give us an in-depth view of just what the figures mean. All the details in the full article.

Interested in knowing just how your favorite games are doing in terms of sales in the UK? Then read on as we give you all the highlights from Chart Track's findings, which includes Sega's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games getting the top spot. Who'd have thought? Check out the full article for the entire scoop.

We're letting you guys know that developer Dark AleX has just released Custom PSP firmware 3.80 M33-3. This latest build carries some new improvements as well as an equally new Popsloader release. More details are available in the full article.

*Update* 3.80 M33-4 is now out. Fast, huh?

Download: Custom Firmware 3.80 M33-4
Download: Popsloader for CFW 3.80 M330-3

The Nintendo DS rules the charts in Japan once again, and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: The Sealed Grimoire leads the charge on its first week out, with five more DS games trailing. The Xbox 360 and the PSP have no top ten entries for the latest numbers from Japan.

Though it doesn't even come close to the other smash success from Square Enix (do you remember that little game called Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII?), Final Fantasy Tactics A2 still did pretty well for itself with 142,000 units sold on its first week, almost double that of the game in second place.

The first PSP game to enter the game is Gundam Battle Chronicles in 15th place and the fist Xbox 360 game, Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War is in 33rd place. The charts have done considerably better this week than than last. Sales are generally on the up and up. Here are the top ten games in Japan for the week of October 28:

1. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS) - 142,000 units
   
2. Ar Tonelico (PS2) - 72,500 units
   
3. World Soccer Winning Eleven DS: Goal to Goal (DS) - 29,000 units
   
4. Imabikisou (PS3) - 22,500 units
   
5. DS Literature Collection (DS) - 21,000 units
   
6. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (DS) - 20,000 units
   
7. Ghost Squad (Wii) - 19,500 units
   
8. God of War II (PS2) - 17,000 units
   
9. DS Nishimura Kyotarou Suspense Detective Series: Deadly Intent (DS) - 17,000 units
   
10. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS) - 16,000 units
    

Can't wait to get your hands on Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron for the PSP? We understand how you feel, since October 12 is still a few sleeps away. To ease the pain of waiting, here's a sneak peak: the game's very stylish intro.

The video is not in full-blown CG, but beautiful artwork coupled with engaging music never fails to impress Star Wars fans. No need to worry though, because the actual game is packed with more action than a band of Wookies with bowcasters. Players will still find themselves dodging blasters and chucking plasma grenades like in previous Battlefront installments.

Before we get lost into a long time ago in a galaxy far away, here's the video:

 

There's something about Star Wars that just won't go away: the lore, the characters, and even the oftentimes subtle galactic humor only true blue fans find.

Anyway, we all know that there are a lot of Star Wars video games out there but we're kind of thinking if we could ever go to the galaxy far, far away the homebrew way. Well, homebrew developer jahsg dropped by QJ.NET's PSP forum recently and unloaded a Star Wars mod for KETM.

To those not in the know, KETM stands for "Kill Everything that Moves" and is one of the older homebrew games around. The game itself is a fast-paced Tyrian 2D shooter and was developed by Deniska.

Having said that, don't go looking for light saber action in this mod as it is purely about good ol' ship-shooting, meteoroid-exploding, space-sailing action. The details below were taken from the last KETM changelog. If you don't have Kill Everything That Moves yet, a download for the complete game has also been provided.

KETM v0.9 changelog

• 4 levels with different environments, music & bosses
• 1 bonus level
• 15 enemies with unique attack patterns and adjusting hostility
• 7 primary weapons
• 4 secondary weapons (rockets, laser, bomb, rotating shield)
• 2 mods: original episode1 and 1941 mod by bourbon_bot
• Fully moddable design: you can change sounds, graphics, script your own attacking sequences and intensity.
• Source code and PSPSDK Makefile provided

Download: KETM Star Wars Mod
Download: KETM v0.9
View: QJ PSP Development forum

    

Another round of PSOne titles hit the PlayStation Store in Japan today with five new additions to the PlayStation 3's game archives. Sony computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ) has announced the update to the PlayStation Network.

The games included are Tall Unlimited (Hamster), Arcade Hits Raiden (Hamster), Gunners Heaven (SCEJ), Galaxy Fight (Sun Denshi), and Hard Edge (Sun Denshi). The downloads from the PS3 to the PSP costs JPY 525, or around US$ 4.47. The current PSOne title count for the Japan PlayStation Store is 36. A bit of a rundown on the titles:

Gunner's Heaven, if you didn't get it back then or was living under a rock for most of your life, is a platform action shooting game much like Metal Slug; it was also known as Rapid Reload in Japan. Hard Edge on the other hand is an action game with gameplay comparable to Resident Evil and with terrorists in a tall building plot. Tall Unlimited is a puzzle game where players need to create a tower within a certain time. Galaxy Fight is a fighting game once considered right up the ranks King of Fighters '95 and Street Fighter Alpha (they were all released on the same year).

Now, we'll have to wait for the update here which is hopefully soon. We'll keep you posted on the PSOne releases on the PlayStation Network. Stay tuned.

First off, I must say, this'll be quite a debut by High Impact Games. Imagine having a well-known title like Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters left entirely in your hands to be launched as the very first game developed in your labs? Talk about pressure!

So anyway, High Impact and SCEA have just released the updated fact sheet and logo (yep, that's the one above) to give us a glimpse of the adventures we'll get to take on when we finally get Ratchet and Clank to grace our handheld screens. As you guys probably know already, Size Matters will be reminiscent of the PS2 franchise, but with a few tweaks here and there. You have all new gameplay, weapons, gadgets, and tons more. Also, this time, Clank won't merely be Ratchet's robotic sidekick as he'll also get a share of the limelight in the game.

Key Game Features:

• Players will take on the roles of both Ratchet and Clank in a journey across the galaxy as they rediscover a forgotten race of genius inventors known as the Technomites.
• New and returning weapons and gadgets, including the Blitz Cannon, Agents of Doom and Shrink Ray.
• Customizable armor system themed for various gameplay to gain upgrades and advance through different areas.
• Gain access to different vehicles to compete in races and combat enemies in missions.
• Multiplayer support for up to four players via WiFi.

Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters is slated for release February 2007.

Mof and Optimus Prime has once again came up with another issue of their PSP magazine, PSP Galaxy. Now on its 14th issue and sponsored by Play-Asia.com, the duo still tries to dish out a variety of piping hot news for the gaming community. For this issue, they focused on three bigtime titles coming for the PSP and some game reviews.

To kick things off, the latest issue of the mag features an exclusive interview with the developers of  Silent Hill: Origins, plus the duo delved deep to bring to you what's hot about WTF: Work Time Fun and Mercury Meltdown. There is also a review of 50 Cent: Bulletproof: G-Unit Edition and Super Monkey Ball Adventures among many others.

Then there's the usual slew of friendly banter in the mag's Mof vs. Prime section. You could also expect the regulars such as Prime's Rant, Cooking with Mof among other things. So if you have some time in your hands, go ahead and give this mag a chance. And also, don't forget to hook us up with your comments

Download: [PSP Galaxy Issue #14]