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The PS3 ranked No. 2 in console sales in the latest Japan retail charts. The hardware remained behind popular handheld sales in Japan.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue ranked below Wii Fit in the latest software charts in Japan. The title held a No. 3 rank in debut sales, behind the new fitness title.

Sony this week dropped new games and trailers to the Playstation Store. New offerings include the game title Toy Home and the Devil May Cry 4 Final Trailer.

Amazon.com this week price cut Ninja Gaiden Sigma for the PS3 to $39.99. The latest version of the action series features a new playable character and new enemies.

Sony this week released a firmware update for the PS3 that includes the new high-definition standard Blu-ray Profile 1.1. Profile 1.1 include Picture-in-picture and extra functionality on compatible discs.

Amazon.com this week price cut Stranglehold Collector’s Edition for the PS3 to $39.99. The premium edition includes a copy of Hard Boiled on Blu-ray disc format.

Sony this week said that it is on track to ship 11 million PS3 units by the end of the fiscal year. In addition, the company said it will focus to strengthen the number of software titles for the hardware.

The first-person shooter TimeShift is decent on the PS3. The title offers next-generation graphics and scripted time-altering controls on the hardware.

Amazon.com this week offered a $75 discount to customers who purchased an 80GB PS3 and two qualifying game titles. The discount is part of the retailer’s 10 Days. 10 Deals. promotion to offer a new video game discount for ten consecutive days.

Sony chief executive Howard Stringer told The New York Times this week that he is pleased with the hardware shortage for Nintendo Co.’s Wii home video game system.

Amazon.com this week price cut Time Crisis 4 for the PS3 to $49.99. The latest entry in the light-gun series includes the new Guncon 3 periperhal.

Sales for the Xbox 360 stayed flat in the latest Japan retail sales data. The Xbox 360 ranked No. 6 in overall hardware sales.

Microsoft this week price cut the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel by $30. The new SKU will include a demo version of Forza Motorsport 2.

Amazon.com this week price cut Virtua Fighter 5 for the Xbox 360 to $39.99. The Xbox 360 version features online fighting not included in the PS3 version.

Hudson Entertainment this week said that it will release a new download pack for the Xbox Live Arcade title Bomberman Live. The Bomb-Up Pack 3 will include a new gameplay mode and new characters.

Take-Two Interactive this week clarified that the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV will receive a total of two downloadable episodes. The first will be released in fiscal 2008 while the second will be released in 2009.

Amazon.com this week offered a free Bourne Trilogy on HD DVD with the purchase of the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player. The offer was part of the 10 Days. 10 Deals promotion.

Microsoft this week released Tempest and The Sensible World of Soccer to Xbox Live Arcade. The two offerings sell for 400 to 800 Microsoft Points.

Wii held top console sales in the latest Japan retail charts. The hardware sold more than 170,000 units in one week.

Wii Fit held strong sales in Japan in the latest software charts. The fitness title sold more than 120,000 units in third-week sales.

GameStop Corp. this week said that the Wii reservation program will be held for one-day only. The reservation guarantees a Wii unit by Jan. 2008.

Wii Fit this week sold out at Amazon Japan on strong demand for the fitness title. The game was released on Dec. 1 in Japan.

Amazon.com this week price cut Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles for Wii to $34.99. The entry features compatibility with the new Wii Zapper peripheral.

Nintendo this week debunked reports that third-parties are discontent with the performance of game titles on Wii. In Nov., two third-party titles for Wii held top sales according to NPD Group Inc.

Take-Two Interactive this week said that it has shipped 500,000 units of Carnival Games for Wii. In addition, it will release a version for the Nintendo DS handheld.

Nintendo this week said it is satisfied with the sales of Super Mario Galaxy. The title has sold more than 1 million units to date in the U.S.

Geometry Wars: Galaxies is a solid arcade blaster for Wii. The title includes multiplayer modes and motion-sensitive play on the hardware.

Amazon.com this week price cut Ghost Squad for Wii to $19.99. The title features a new party mode and unlockable costumes.

Nintendo this week released a new wave of Virtual Console titles to Wii. New offerings include Cybernator, Alien Storm, and Monster Lair.

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