Austrian publisher JoWooD has announced the sequel to their ‘eh’ selling tactical shooter, 2 years after shutting down original Soldner developer Wings Simulations. Though it was said that Soldner 2 would never make it to market, JoWooD seems to have shifted their position, sourcing the continued development to Germany’s gEasy Team Development, a remarkably odd choice considering there are quite a few talented development studios in search of work. But this is JoWooD, so, no surprises as usual. Soldner 2 is slotted for release in late 2007.

Read more: JoWooD announces Soldner 2 | gEasy Team

Margaret Weis (who?), a book and game publishing company based in SE Wisconsin named after owner / author Margaret Weis has announced they will be publishing the Battlestar Galactica table-top role-playing game come 2007. Known for their Dragonlance setting for Dungeons and Dragons as well as their Serenity RPG, Margaret Weis also publishes the young adult pick-a-path novel series, Paths of Doom (I used to love pick-a-path novels!). The game-book will be set in space, following the storyline of the re-imagined series as what’s left of humanity races to find Earth before the ever so lovely Cylons do. The game-system is being designed by Jamie Chambers, who also designed the Serenity RPG and aided by Sean Everette, writer for Knightly Orders of Ansalon and an ex-United States Navy and Air Force soldier, which will aid in keeping the writing similar to the military style Battlestar Galactica is known for.

Read more: Margeret Weis to launch BSG RPG | Margeret Weis Productions

Venerable UK game developers Warthog, who many of you have heard about thanks to their past acquisition by the infamous crooks behind Gizmondo, are still alive and kicking, and seeking to be acquired by someone, anyone. Currently, the company is maintaining their AIM market listing, incurring losses quarterly while it actively looks for someone to come in and swoop them up, but probably not for the price they went to Gizmondo for.

Read more: Warthog losing money as it seeks acquisition | Warthog entry @ Wikipedia

Every Xbox 360 owner is anticipating the next version of Halo, coming soon(ish) from Bungie and Microsoft. Lately, MS and Bungie have been releasing teaser documentaries and behind the scenes looks into the ongoing development of the title, including it’s upcoming changes and storylines. This video shows the first ever gameplay footage of a pre-alpha build, in between interviews with artists and animators who are discussing the changes to the Brutes which will be coming to Halo 3. Cute, grumpy, fuzzy monsters no more, the Brutes are becoming full on, agile war machines!

Sit back and watch after the jump..

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A recent interview with analyst Paul-Jon McNeely of American Technology Research brought to light analyst expectations that the Sony PS3 shortage is in full effect and Sony is stretching themselves thin with the upcoming European launch. McNeely expects the PS3 shortages to last into the Summer with Wii shortages to last until early Spring. With no stock to sell and few killer apps coming for the PS3, it looked a bit as if Sony would be in for a hurting this holiday season. But it’s not so, since the PS2 appears to be running neck and neck with the Microsoft Xbox 360 for second choice.

McNealy said investors and game makers tempered their forecasts for the PS3s since initial numbers fell short. He added that the PS3 will likely remain scarce through the June quarter.

“They have to launch in Europe, and they’re stretched,” said McNealy.

Wii shortages could ease in the March quarter, he said.

Read more: Fox News

It’s 1998, kids were going nuts over the Nintendo 64, and so were the adults. Happy holidays folks.

Three Five Wii-related posts in a row, you know what that means, it’s Christmas time and I still haven’t been able to get a Wii. Come on Nintendo, this is getting ridiculous. Anyways, a recent posting over at Game Trailers brought to our attention a new gameplay video from Pokemon Battle Revolution from Japan. I must admit, the graphics are a step up in the Pokemon series, providing some of the cleanest looking Pokemons I’ve seen in-game before.

Catch the video after the jump..

Read more of “Pokemon Battle Revolution gameplay video“

A hot little Easter Egg was brought to our attention after the release of the Wii Weather Channel. It seems that certain games actually use the real time weather data for your region in the game environment. The nifty little feature is confirmed to be present in Madden, but not in Zelda unfortunately. I can only imagine how great this will be in Animal Crossing.

Read more: Wii uses weather data in game

Line Rider, the highly addictive sledding flash “toy” created by a student for illustration class, which then went on to become an internet sensation, will be making it’s way to the Nintendo DS and Wii consoles thanks to inXile. Line Rider allows a user to sketch out lines which is then transformed into a sledding course, allowing an ultra cute character on a tobaggon to sled his way down, crashing, banging and flipping on the lines you’ve just created. A perfect fit for both Line Rider and the hardware, I’m highly looking forward to these coming out!

Read more: Line Rider |

I love Nintendo, I love the Torque engine and I only use Macs, so when I saw that someone had hacked the Wii controller into the Mac version of the Torque game engine I was ecstatic. Well, maybe just interested. But awesome nonetheless. Recently the creator has invented a home brew IR sensor for the Wii and is also offering the binary for download. Games hackers of the world unite and buy the Torque engine!

Watch the presentation video after the jump.

Read more of “Wii remote reverse engineered and hacked into Mac Torque engine“