This is the first time Sony has offered a pre-order on the PlayStation Store. Although PS3 owners won’t get the neat ‘net ephemera that Mac/PC buyers will enjoy, the PS3 pre-order price has been discounted $5 to $29.99. (We’re told Trophy info is coming soon!) The Store indicates that if you buy the pre-order, you will have to initiate the download when each new monthly episode is released. IE, Sony has no automatic content delivery or alert system.

Hit the jump for a “Devil’s Playhouse” launch trailer and the pre-order package details for Mac/PC buyers!

The pre-order at telltalegames.com for Mac and PC pre-order campaign also continues through the April 15 series premiere. Early Sam & Max customers at the Telltale Store get:

-A FREE Telltale game episode
-Access to the private Elite Forces forum and preview area for chats with Steve Purcell, design team, and more
-Special discounts at the Telltale Store during the course of the season
-Avatar and wallpaper downloads
- All for just $34.95

Even more naturally, the leading vote-getter is trees, currently sitting at over 19% of the tally. Which may seem like an odd result for an internet poll – where we usually vote specifically for penises and Howard Stern sycophants – but you must remember that Nintendo sanitized the choices. Among the options are such ho-hum items as coffee cups, pools, hair and furniture. OK, Nintendo. We can see you’re not taking this seriously.

The XL lumbers to retail March 28 for a heart-wrenching $190 (but you get pre-installed Brain Age games!)

Press release follows:

New Nintendo DSi XL Makes Portable Games More Social with Extra-Large Screens; System Launches March 28 with Pre-Installed Software

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– From bank balances to IQ scores, there are many things people would love to see increase by 93 percent. Nintendo, for its part, is determined to significantly boost the social fun of portable gaming. Launching March 28, the new, extra-large Nintendo DSi XL™ hand-held system makes it easier for everyone to gather around and have a good time. It features 4.2-inch screens that are 93 percent larger than those on the Nintendo DS™ Lite system. The improved wider viewing angle of the Nintendo DSi XL screens also provides a new way for people to enjoy games with friends and family, making it easier than ever to watch and join in the fun.

Nintendo DSi XL will be available at a suggested retail price of $189.99, and that includes three titles that have been pre-installed on the system. These include the brain-training games Brain Age™ Express: Math and Brain Age™ Express: Arts & Letters, as well as Photo Clock, which lets users customize the pictures on the background of their clock. Nintendo DSi XL launches in both Burgundy and Bronze, with a glossy top and a matte-finish bottom for a better grip.

“For some people, good things come in big packages,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Our Nintendo DS family of systems has been going strong since 2004, and this new portable system really lets players enjoy the fun together.”

Nintendo DSi XL is launching at the same time as two portable games that demonstrate the social nature of the new hardware. America’s Test Kitchen: Let’s Get Cooking uses the larger screens to help multiple chefs chip in to prepare delicious recipes. In WarioWare™: D.I.Y., the larger screens help players see all the details as they create and share their own microgames.

Beyond the social experience, the larger Nintendo DSi XL screens draw players in and make games feel more engaging. Eye-popping graphics are beautifully rendered. Even people who have been playing Nintendo DS games for years will see them take on a new life with Nintendo DSi XL. As always, playing is believing. To truly understand the difference Nintendo DSi XL makes, you have to experience it for yourself.

Nintendo DSi XL includes all the same features as the Nintendo DSi system, including two cameras and photo- and sound-manipulation tools. With a broadband Internet connection, you can also upload photos directly to Facebook to share with friends or access downloadable Nintendo DSiWare™ games via the Nintendo DSi Shop.

To help celebrate the launch of Nintendo DSi XL, Nintendo is asking the public to choose things in their lives that they would like to see 93 percent bigger. The poll lists fun, humorous options, including sound speakers, swimming pools and furniture. The poll is a great way for people to get social as they show off their responses to their friends. People can check out the “What would you like 93% bigger?” application on Facebook® Platform at http://apps.facebook.com/ninetythree-percent or visit the @NintendoAmerica profile on Twitter to answer the poll questions for themselves.

Remember that Nintendo DSi XL features parental controls that let adults manage the digital content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit www.nintendodsi.com.

Yesterday the PlayStation Blog revealed the launch date and initial preorder bonii for ModNation Racers, and as we’ve seen Sony do time and time again this generation, they’re mixing and mingling their console-exclusive characters.

Preorder with GameStop and you’ll receive a Kratos character and kart. Amazon will have Ratchet and Clank characters, while Best Buy gets Uncharted’s Nathan Drake and a jeep. I guess I’ll go with R&C since the Kratos is (appropriately) hideous and there’s nothing special about the Uncharted jeep. (Group shot of all the characters follows.)

ModNation Racers hits both PS3 and PSP on the same day, May 25.

In addition, each preorder will get some currently-unknown character/kart deals… intriguingly blind-boxed just like all those collectible toys and trading cards.

It’s Grand Theft Auto. Car Jack Streets is the Single White Female version of the original top-down city. The game is also available in a non-dual-screen-edition on the iPhone App Store. YouTube trailer after the jump.

DSiWare gets another variation of Battle of Giants, this time featuring dinosaurs (800 points), plus the sort-of-hilariously-named Car Jack Streets (800 points).

And of course, fresh on the Virtual Console is Castlevania: Rondo of Blood from the TG-16 (900 points). “Rondo” is a music term. I looked it up.

Nintendo’s PR theme this week is all about being “tough,” which may cover the above games, but does not do much for Zoo Frenzy (DSiWare, 500 points) or 101 MiniGolf World (DSiWare, 500 points). The entire press release is after the jump.

Nintendo Download

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Gaming

How tough do you think you are? This week’s roster of new downloadable games from Nintendo gives you several ways to prove it. Now available for the WiiWare™ service, Rage of the Gladiator puts players face-to-face with flurry of fearsome foes, enhancing the motion-control action with support for the Wii MotionPlus™ accessory. Meanwhile, Wii™ owners with a taste for classic gaming can test their mettle against bloodthirsty vampires in CASTLEVANIA RONDO OF BLOOD for the Virtual Console™ service. Other fresh releases challenge you to excel as a sharpshooter, a prehistoric beast or a criminal mastermind. Whichever setting you choose, just be prepared to step up and show your stuff.

Virtual Console

CASTLEVANIA RONDO OF BLOOD
Original platform: TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM
Publisher: Konami
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points
Description: This is the 10th action-packed installment in the ever-popular CASTLEVANIA series, which depicts the epic struggle between the Belmont clan and the dark forces of Count Dracula. An instant classic, this title is recognized far and wide for its beautifully rendered world, outstanding game balance and haunting CD-quality music. The player takes control of RICHTER, the clan’s ultimate Vampire Killer, guiding him through a total of nine stages filled with treacherous traps and hidden secrets. Using your legendary whip – passed on from generations of Belmonts – and a powerful selection of Item Crash attacks, it’s up to you to destroy Dracula and his evil horde. What’s more, rescuing MARIA at some juncture in the game allows you to use her as a playable character for even more vampire-slaying fun.

WiiWare

Rage of the Gladiator
Publisher: Ghostfire Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Animated Blood, Alcohol Reference, Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Rage of the Gladiator is a fantasy-based fighting game in which you must fight for your life in the arena. One of the most gorgeous WiiWare games ever, it features amazing 3-D graphics, animation, lighting, shadows and special effects. Full voice acting means each boss has its own personality and taunts you mercilessly. Discover insane finishing moves: Summon a fiery meteor or savage tornado, or transform into a hulking colossus 10 times your normal size. Customize your character and specialize in skill trees – Offense, Defense or Magic – to gain new powers. You’ll also enjoy epic, blood-pumping music by legendary composer Sean Beeson. For added replay value, unlock Challenge Mode and encounter tougher bosses with new abilities. The game also supports the Wii MotionPlus accessory.

Triple Shot Sports
Publisher: The Code Monkeys Ltd.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Triple Shot Sports is one of the most advanced recreational shooting games available for the WiiWare service, immersing players in the world of competitive target shooting. Most competitive events consist of activities that are traditionally derived from hunting and combat skills. Over time, these practices have evolved into a variety of competitive sports that include Archery, Pistol Shooting and Free Rifle. As with real-life shooting events, you will have full control over the aim of the weapon. You must also account for prevailing weather conditions and the athlete’s breathing pattern, as these factors can influence the accuracy of your shot.

Nintendo DSiWare

Zoo Frenzy
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) –Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Create the zoo of your dreams and try to maximize your profit by managing tons of parameters. Enjoy five fun mini-games to train and support your animals: Feed them, heal them and even play soccer- or hockey-themed games with them. Your best-trained pets will go back into the wild to fight dangerous monsters and find cute new animals for your zoo. Enjoy use of the Nintendo DSi™ system’s built-in microphone and camera – wake up the hero by shouting at him, and see yourself in the game.

101 MiniGolf World
Publisher: Teyon
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: 101 MiniGolf World is one of the first-ever 3-D miniature golf games for the Nintendo DSiWare service. Your stylus becomes the putter for an incredibly fun mini-golf experience. Play more than 100 challenging holes solo or with up to eight players on one system. Send your ball flying through loops, pipes, arches, extreme ramps and mind-blowing obstacles. Enjoy a combination of real golf rules and wacky mini-golf fun.

Battle of Giants™: Dinosaurs – Fight For Survival
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Long before mankind stepped into the world, the Earth was a harsh environment dominated by dinosaurs. Every species of dinosaur had to fight to survive in this hostile environment. Travel through the hostile lands as one of three breeds of dinosaur while battling giant enemies to save your kind. Create and customize your own unique dinosaur. Explore four mysterious territories and discover buried fossils to complete your mission. Enhance your dinosaur’s abilities and compete against your friends in epic duels.

Car Jack Streets
Publisher: Tag Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Mild Language, Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: A critically acclaimed game with high-octane action, innovative real-time game play, stunning visuals and an awesome soundtrack, Car Jack Streets will take you to the limit. The Italian mob is calling in your gambling debt of $1 million. Attempt a wide variety of criminal and legitimate jobs to earn as much cash as possible, but remember to avoid attracting attention from the cops and other gang members. Do you have what it takes to stay alive, pay your debt and rise to the top of the criminal underworld?

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit www.Wii.com or www.NintendoDSi.com.

GAME> Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Smash-Up (2009)
SYSTEM> Nintendo Wii
SOURCE> Red Baron Pizza trading cards, 2009

Man alive, like the Ninja Turtles need more ways to debase themselves. No, go ahead and unlock Mikey’s skateboarding rapper outfit, that’s fine. Sheesus.

WTF is up with Step 5, troubleshooting the costume?

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver begin their re-imagined DS walking tours tomorrow, so why not kick back today with some custom made Pikachu Peeps. All you need is yellow bunny Peeps, some edible ink pens, and a little pixie dust (as per this 2009 post from Bakerella.com!)

Man, I am on an easy-prediction hot streak!

Today the PlayStation Blog announced that EyePet will indeed support Move, as I had mentioned earlier. THE PROPHECY IS COMPLETE.

EyePet was intended for a US release last fall but vanished from the PS3 holiday ‘09 lineup… no doubt to add all these inspiring Move controls. As originally presented, the EyePet used a special card as one means to interact with the modern-gen Monchichi. Now PS Blog reports you’ll be able to use the Move as well. A new demo movie is after the jump.

Yes, I’m getting this. Because it is exactly the kind of silly crap I like.

Opinion coming: I mean, whatever.

There’s some nice write-ups at Kotaku, but the Move announcements smell like more motion-controlled crap mini-games. How is it that something like this can launch four years after the Wii came out, and the first batch of games are still goofy Wii 1.1 junk, with titles like “Move Party”? And could that photo be any more Wii-like?

Sure, the interior tech is improved over the stock Wii Remotes. It damn well better be, since it’s 2010. It also requires a PlayStation Eye camera, which almost no one owns, so get ready for expensive bundles this holiday season.

Sure, there’s no doubt one amazing upcoming game that will manage to combine HD graphics with motion controlled gameplay and not seem like a cheap Wii knockoff. Maybe it will be God of War Presents Kratos and Friends Brutal Olympiad Featuring Archery.

Sure, I haven’t touched it yet so what do I know about how fresh it feels.

But none of that changes the fact that this is a follow-the-leader reaction, issued primarily to remove a bullet point from Nintendo’s marketing plan. Sony’s new attack could be “We have this same crap now too, so you can stop buying that ugly standard-def unit with the bullshit online service.”

I’m all for video game systems evolving over time, but where’s the Move’s great leap forward? Depth perception? No tether cord? Like the Wii Remote+Nunchuk, the Move will be limited to certain types of games and certain types of control schemes… and if you do not enjoy those specific types, you simply won’t be buying a Move. Sounds like our highest hope for the Move is a high-def port of Madworld. The best part about the Move is, unlike the Wii, you at least have a kickass “traditional” controller available by default.

Don’t even tell me that shooter fans are going to get in line for this, since similar control schemes were tried on Wii and roundly ignored. Does anybody really think that the SOCOM audience is going to prefer to play the fourth installment with Move controls?

Thus far, I like the proposed LittleBigPlanet Move integration. And I’m waiting for the big REVISED EYEPET announcement where they add a bunch of Move controls to the delayed virtual pet. But Move Party? No thanks.

OK, right away I’m upset that Hudson changed the Calling logo. Originally the “l l i” looked like cellphone connection strength bars. This launch trailer ends with a logo where the middle letters just look like they have a glandular problem.

That aside, this Wii horror game might be just the thing for latent Fatal Frame / The Ring fans. And it’s only $40. Movie and presser follows.

HUDSON ENTERTAINMENT SUMMONS HORROR FANS TO Wii WITH CALLING
Suspense Game Inspired by Japanese Horror Now Available on Wii
San Mateo, Calif. – March 9, 2010 – The spirit world is ready to take on the gaming world in Calling, now available on Wii™ for $39.99. Published by Hudson Entertainment, the North and South American subsidiary of HUDSON SOFT, Calling centers around a mysterious “Black Page,” to which four unique characters are drawn in search of answers. Calling has roots in the Japanese horror genre and presents a sinister new take on ordinary environments and objects as the characters try to escape from the Mnemonic Abyss.

“Gamers everywhere will never look at an ordinary cell phone in the same way again after playing Calling,” said Mike Pepe, Director of Marketing of Hudson Entertainment. “Calling offers a refreshing combination of traditional horror and unique Wii gameplay that will thrill hardcore fans and casual gamers.”

Some say the “Black Page” is a hoax others say it is a bridge to something sinister. Players seek the truth for themselves with the guidance of the four characters stuck in the Mnemonic Abyss. Calling revolves around these characters and their fight for survival. In classic J-Horror style, players will experience the gripping story of suspense from the different characters’ perspectives. Someone or something is drawing the living into the Mnemonic Abyss for a reason, and it is up to the player to discover the truth. Using the Wii Remote™, players will use various equipment including flash lights, phones, and other items to navigate and escape the Calling.

Throughout the game players will visit various parts of the Calling world. Memories of houses, schools, hospitals and more bring players closer to either an escape or an untimely death. Players will solve puzzles, search and interact with objects, and ultimately try to escape this alternate existence.

For more information on Calling and Hudson Entertainment, please visit www.callinggame.com or www.kuroeight.com