Microsoft has been at a severe disadvantage with backwards compatibility between Xbox 360 and Xbox because of the vast differences in terms of hardware creation, but no one's really considered the possible advantages of that situation. Bungie Studios, however, seems to be the first breaking word on this. There shouldn't be any reason to call special attention to the game's looks on Xbox 360 unless there would be a noticeable difference. Rumors have been flying backwards compatibility would add 720P support for HDTVs, in addition to cleaning up frame rates and texture issues, but no one at Microsoft or Bungie's made anything official. Via - 1up

Bad news for videogame console owners - the first examples of malicious code designed to infect the devices has been found in the wild. According to security firm Panda, the Format.A trojan can infect the Sony's PSP, and the Tahen trojan can infect the Nintendo DS. Described as being "extremely dangerous", the malware deletes critical files, and can even irreversibly render the PSP console unusable. In order to spread, Format.A is designed to imitate a tool developed to run unsigned code on PSP consoles. The Tahen Trojans, on the other hand, purport to be homebrew applications for Nintendo DS. However, when users install them, they overwrite certain areas of firmware on the Nintendo DS console and the G6, XGFlash, SuperCard and GBAMP devices (which allow cartridges to be recorded with software to run on the console). Via - Techspot

In its opening weekend at the box office, the Doom movie managed just $15.4 million. Six in ten of the audience had played the game. Entertainment industry trade paper Variety called it "at the low end" of expectations. Universal distribution chief Nikki Rocco said, "I'm please we're Number one, though of course I wish it was bigger. But you worry about the business overall. We keep saying the best is yet to come, and yet each weekend that's not what we're reporting." Doom attracted a 69% male audience with 61% under 25. 59% had previously played the game. Source - Next-gen.biz

Nearly a year on since the November 9 release of Halo 2, one of the bestselling games on the Xbox, Bungie has provided a set of statistics detailing how much the game has been played over Xbox Live. Though figures released by Microsoft indicate that a relatively small percentage of the Xbox's userbase goes online, the total number of Halo 2 games played over Xbox Live has still reached 324,362,454. However, if one were to count each player's game in all of the above matches separately -- five "games" for one five-player match, for example -- the number would reach 2,189,713,936 games altogether. The total number of hours players have spent playing Matchmade games over the service is 184,137,245, which equates to just over 21,000 years. The longest amount of time a single player has spent with the game is 14,929 games, or about six hours and 71 games per day.

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SCi ENTERTAINMENT, the UK's largest independent publisher, has confirmed that it is in talks regarding a potential buyout. Coming only five months after winning a takeover battle and acquiring Eidos - under which it publishes new titles - the company has surprised many with the news and has already confirmed that it has been approached by several parties, though none can guarantee an offer. Reuters is citing newspaper reports naming Midway and Electronic Arts as possible front runners in any buyout and indicating that the private equity firm Apax Partners Worldwide is also interested. These names have yet to be substantiated in any way. Via - The Inquirer

Postal the game franchise that politicians, parents groups, countless cowardly reviewers and over a dozen sovereign nations don't want you to play has just become the latest game to make the transition to the big screen. Running with Scissors (RWS), the world's most dangerous software company, has signed an appropriately apocalyptic deal with renegade filmmaker Uwe Boll to bring the most controversial franchise in gaming history to the screen in all its blood-drenched, ironic glory. Despite everyone from Steven Spielberg to Microsoft announcing big money deals involving films based on video games, this new partnership between controversial figures in the game and film industries is destined to become the most incendiary game-to-film deal yet.

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November 4th is the new European release date for Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, it has been confirmed today. Rockstar's hugely-anticipated PSP-exclusive had been due for release this Friday, the 28th October, but has now been forced back seven days for reasons as-yet unconfirmed. The game's UK distributor Gem confirmed the news to Eurogamer, and admitted it had only just received confirmation itself this lunchtime.

Xbox Live will be upgraded Monday (10/24) and will be unavailable. In addition, Xbox.com and the official Xbox forums will also be offline as they are also being upgraded. It’s important to note that when Xbox.com come back online (with Xbox Live) it will have an all new look, but all the “My Live” web features and the official Xbox forums will be offline for a few extra days.

Online postings from people describing themselves as Wal-Mart employees or customers say the Xbox 360 pods were shut down because they had been interfering with the company's SMART system. This is used for internal communication and check-out duties. A posting on blog Joysriq said, "I work at Wal-Mart…. the truth is that the 2.4ghz interferes with our Smart system." A number of other online postings suggest similar experiences around the country. We're awaiting confirmation from Wal-Mart. A Microsoft spokesperson would not comment on the specific case, but offered, "Xbox 360 retail kiosks have started arriving at retailers. Via - Nextgenbiz

Ubisoft has announced that it has signed a deal with Digital Jesters to distribute Crazy Frog Racer, the first Crazy Frog video game, which is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 2 and Gameboy Advance this Christmas. Following its debut as a ringtone and mobile mascot, the Crazy Frog became a mainstream phenomenon, with its 'Axel F' single spending two months at number one on Australia's ARIA singles chart this year. Subsequent singles are in the pipeline, and an album is now available - so whether you love or loathe the grinning, virtual bike-riding amphibian, there's little chance of escaping him this year. Crazy Frog Racer is a high-speed, high-octane wacky races style game that will appeal to fans both uoung and old. Players can either choose to play as 'The Annoying Thing' and D'Ding Ding their way to victory or take on the role of one of eight other unique playable characters and beat the frog at his own game.

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EA has revealed the list of licensed cars that will grace Need for Speed: Most Wanted. Need for Speed: Most Wanted is due out on all formats in November with the Xbox 360 version arriving at the launch of the Xbox 360, but just what cars will be available to all wannabe street racers. The full list of cars found in the game is listed below and whilst fairly impressive, there are a few notable absentees. There are no Ferraris and the street racer's favourite, the Nissan Skyline, is nowhere to be seen. Other peculiarities are the inclusion of a Fiat Punto, which isn't exactly a car to break any speed records and will no doubt need some heavy performance tuning to compete with the competition.

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Electronic Arts announced that The Sims 2 for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Nintendo GameCube, the Game Boy Advance, and the Nintendo DS, ships to retailers today. The Sims 2 for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system and mobile phones will follow in the weeks to come. Developed by the award winning EA-Maxis studio, under the EA brand, The Sims 2 is everywhere this fall. Based on the PC version of The Sims 2, which was the best-selling PC game of 2004, the console and handheld versions were re-invented from the ground-up to capitalize on the unique capabilities of each platform, while maintaining the same creativity and customization considered core components of the signature Sims experience. Classic open-ended gameplay allows console and handheld gamers to make the game their own, no matter which platform they choose!

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Many ancient fighting disciplines have a version of, what’s lovingly called, The Circle of Death. It varies from martial art to martial art, but normally it involves a centering of energy or an arranging of personal fighting space. This is exactly the concept behind the Wolf Claw II. A circle of all the important FPS keys surrounds your left hand in a unique configuration. Arranging your fighting space, and centering your FPS energy. The keys are made to be silent, adding a little verisimilitude to any stealth gaming operation. The Wolf Claw II also features two revolutionary advancements. First, is the vertical space bar. It falls directly under your left thumb, which lets you keep your thumb in its natural position. Second, is the K-Lock key. Many online FPS games use the K key as a press-to-talk button. Well, now you can just kit the K-Lock, and talk all you want. Add two USB ports, some internet hot keys, and you have perhaps the greatest FPS keyboard ever designed. Time to get fragging! . Available for $ 49.99 from Thinkgeek.

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Nintendo of America on Tuesday announced a groundbreaking partnership with Wi-Fi provider Wayport to make available free Internet access to DS owners at McDonald's restaurants across the nation. Nintendo and Wayport will offer complimentary Wi-Fi hotspots at McDonald's establishments, enabling DS owners to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which launches November 14 in the states, to play online games with or against each other. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection marks the company's entry into the online arena. The service is dramatically different from competitors because it is entirely free to consumers who already have wireless Internet access at home, as opposed to Xbox Live, which functions on a subscription model.

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In their November 2005 "What's Next" issue, TIME magazine lists the Nintendo Revolution controller as one of the five new things "that will blow your mind." Time mag quotes Back when Atari and its one-button joystick ruled, Nintendo devised a two-button controller with a directional thumb pad. Then came action-sensitive vibration, wireless connectivity and an analog stick for 360˚ steering. Now the company hopes to shake things up with a wireless controller for next year's Revolution console that will allow players to apply real-world physical experience to games. The one-handed grip has motion and position sensors, so if you're playing a Ping-Pong game, you just flick the controller like a paddle. Or, to shoot, take aim and tap a button.