video games - "xbox live"

What are the best-selling games in America, Japan, and Europe (UK) this week according to Amazon? Mario Kart Wii keeps finishing first on the Wii chart. Assassin's Creed returns on the top of the xbox 360 chart after a discount to $24. PS3 exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 remains at #1. The Diablo Battle Chest rises from hell to claim the PC top spot.

timesonline writes "Nintendo's bestselling Wii may soon have a rival. Speculation is rife about a new motion-sensitive controller for the Microsoft xbox 360. Like the Wii, this would enable gamers to control on-screen characters by moving their body rather than pressing buttons. More than 24m Wiis have been sold worldwide since its launch in 2006. So popular have games such as Wii tennis and boxing become that there has been a surge in injuries caused by overexertion or by players accidentally striking bystanders. An announcement about the xbox is expected on www.e3expo.com - the website of E3, the Los Angeles gaming trade show. You heard it here first."

Talking to Gamasutra, xbox boss of product management Aaron Greenberg has opened a whole can worms, the exec describing Nintendo's best selling system as a novelty that will wear off.

Highlights this week include Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice (PC) Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (Xbox 360/PS3/Nintendo DS), Unreal Tournament III (Xbox 360), and Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon (Nintendo Wii). Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the week of July 6, 2008 on xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PS2, PSP, Nintendo DS, and PC!

The game hardware sales data for the June period in Japan (aka the five weeks to June 29) has been released, and Sony's PSP managed to outsell both the Wii and Nintendo DS, with sales of 274,131 units according to Famitsu publisher Enterbrain. The market research firm said that Nintendo's lead with Wii is fading, as its lead on the PlayStation 3 narrowed to 1.7-to-1 in June, down significantly from its 6-to-1 lead in May. However, the PS3 did see the launch of Konami blockbuster Metal Gear Solid 4 in June, which had a lot to do with the buzz. Wii managed sales of 235,990 units, PS3 managed 139,494, DS managed 195,714, and as usual, Microsoft's xbox 360 trailed by a long margin with just 10,964 units.

See a live countdown to Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and E3's press conferences on IGN.com.

From what we've played so far, this Japanese RPG could very well be the next Tales of Symphonia.