Yup, it was all bound to happen. A new console gets released, and the first lucky ones take snapshots and of course, post it on the internet for everyone else to see... because you have to admit that them new consoles are darn purty. And so, as Dollfie collectors carefully unpack their latest toy and take photos (or videos) of the whole process, here comes the Elite.

In any case, one of the first few lucky ones who actually managed to get a unit this early, and post a batch of unboxing photos of the spankin' new Xbox 360 Elite, are the folks from GamePro.

As many of you may have noticed, some of the nicest things that come with the the Elite (aside from its 120 GB HDD and that gorgeous black finish, of course) would be the inclusion of an HDMI cable in the package, as well as the standard set of A/V cables, and a Hard Drive Transfer Cable. This last accessory allows you to transfer all of your data from your old Xbox 360 onto your Xbox 360 Elite, so you don't have to worry about losing all of your saved game data, as well as all of your stuff which you downloaded from the Marketplace.

On top of those things, there's also the Optical and Component Audio dongle which, according to GamePro, "allows you to use optical 5.1 audio, even if you're using HDMI for video". Then let's not forget about the sleek and neat matching headset which comes with the box, which of course go with black controller.

Well, with just a few more days before the Elite becomes available in North America, here's to hoping that you've already set aside the US$ 480 that you need to purchase this console.

Now, the next question is whether GamePro still thinks that this new Xbox 360 model isn't so "Elite", as well as if there will also be a host of camping-out videos within the next few days, and if that will soon be followed by videos and photos showing the Elite being dismantled, or just simply smashed into bits.

View the rest of the photos, right after the Jump!

For those who have been hankering for a Devil May Cry 4 update from Capcom, well, here's another massive dose of eye candy for you. This time around, we get loads of pictures of DMC4's hero, Nero, fighting against something that we're hoping to be a boss and not a lowly minion. *gulp*

In any case, the only thing that comes to mind at the moment is that the thing that Nero is fighting looks like a cross between the Balrog from the LOTR movie, plus Nelo Angelo and Phantom from DMC1. Hmm... eitherway, we get to see more of Nero's moves, and hopefully, this makes the waiting a bit easier, as we continue to pray that the Autumn release date of the game for the Xbox 360 and the PS3 finally gets narrowed down further.

But then again, in case that takes too long, at least there's the anime version of Dante to keep us distracted for a while, right? (And that brings up the question of: So, DMC's timeline now goes as DMC3, DMC the Anime, DMC1, DMC2, and then DMC4...?)

More screenshots right after the Jump!

About a week ago, we put up some Game Informer scans which contained new information about the much-awaited PS3 and Xbox 360 game, Grand Theft Auto 4. Among the details that were discussed in those scans was why the new Liberty City which will be the venue in the game, will be based on a carbon copy of New York City.

Well, for those who are still doubting that the new Liberty City is REALLY directly based on the Big Apple, then check out what Google Maps has got to say about that. Basically, some kind soul has taken the map of New York, and from there, pointed out landmarks which can be found in the game. On top of pointing out the landmarks, whoever made the map has also included the Liberty City counterpart of the said buildings or monuments. For example, clicking on the marker for the Statue of Liberty will reveal that in the game, it is known as the Statue of Happiness.

There are also several guesses that are on the map, including a theory on whether JFK airport will be included in the game.

Anyway, check it out via the source link that we included below, and tell us if you've got any theories of your own.

For those who have been eagerly awaiting their chance to be able to roll up ramen, islands, hopes, and dreams once again, then listen up as GamePro has some new details on the latest Katamari game. According to them (who managed to see the first few stages in action, the lucky guys...), besides getting a spankin' new soundtrack, Beautiful Katamari Damacy for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 will also be receiving huge doses of technical upgrades. For starters, since the game has gone next-gen, fans can now expect to play as the beloved Prince in HD glory. Among the improvements that the folks from GamePro noted are:

• support for 720p
• seamless Katamari growth
• increased draw distances
• improved physics simulation which allows more realism and more on-screen objects

Despite this leap in technology, they assure players that the game continues to maintain the quirky retro look, as well as the addictive gameplay that has made the series popular. Speaking of leaps in technology, one of the most exciting features that the next-gen Katamari game will have has got to be its online features. Previously, a Famitsu scan revealed to us that there will indeed be online play for Beautiful Katamari Damacy, but GamePro confirms that on both XBL and PSN, Downloadable Content">downloadable content will be made available. Among the things that you can download will be new cousins, presents, objects, and even entire stages.

Meanwhile, despite all this exciting developments, there are also unconfirmed reports on whether the team behind the game will be implementing online leaderboards or not, and there is also still no word on how many online players the game can or will support. Other details that are yet to be confirmed would be the availability of a downloadable demo, official release dates, as well as the title's price, so stay tuned as we wait for news about those.

Thanks to karim baki for the tip!

We love Katamari!!

No, we're not referring to the PS2 Katamari Damacy sequel, but we're actually voicing out our reverence for the King of All Cosmos and the Prince (well, at least this writer is anyway...). In any case, as Namco Bandai's Beautiful Katamari Damacy has just been recently announced for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360, finding these new scans about it are just nothing short of delightful. In any case, with the use of our appallingly sketchy knowledge of the written Japanese language, the scans reveal several key things, namely:

• the game will indeed support online play
• the Xbox 360 version will be played in the same way as the previous Katamari games - with both analog sticks
• there will be more cousins to pick up
• and oh my goodness, did the King of All Cosmos just have a wardrobe change...?

Anyway, the scans also include an interview with the game's director, and there seem to be questions about Beautiful Katamari Damacy's controls on the different platforms, as well as inquiries about the artists who will be involved in the title's soundtrack (after all, Katamari games ARE famous for their trippy music).

So yes, we are now eagerly looking forward to picking up... *checks notes* ... vaulting boxes, pencils, erasers, postcards, ramen, robots, cows, sheep, this girl, that boy, moms and dads, bicycles, motorbikes, homes, buildings, rainbows, clouds, islands, hopes and dreams once again.

Sing with me now! Naaaa~ na na na na na naa, Katamari Damacy...

Barely a week ago, we mentioned that the magazine GameInformer will soon be putting out some new information about the much-awaited installment to the Grand Theft Auto series of games from Rockstar. Well, true to their word, they did put out a hefty amount of details about the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 4, and through the glory of the internet (and axxelkill_U of the GameSwank forums who put these images up), scans of the said report are now circulating and have finally made it to us.

The report basically involved GI's take on the demo of GTA 4 that was provided to them by Dan Houser, the vice president of creative for this video game (the demo was played on an Xbox 360 debug unit, by the way). On top of that, Houser also provided his own input and views on certain aspects of the game, and most importantly, he also confirmed details and answered some questions that many fans have been asking for the longest time.

So, on with the show!

On release dates and other game details
According to Houser, GTA 4 will be released by October 16 this year for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360. He mentioned that both versions will be identical, except for one glaring thing: downloadable "episodic" content will be exclusive to the Xbox 360 version. One other thing that he mentioned was that even though the game is meant to be a single-player experience, it WILL have multiplayer support. He gave no further details about this last bit... except maybe that it will NOT be similar to an MMORPG (sorry, folks).

As for the physics of the game, GameInformer seems pretty impressed by it, while Houser promises that "the physics are going to be pretty amazing". After all, the title makes use of RAGE, or the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine, which we last saw in action in another Rockstar title, Table Tennis. In fact, all vehicles in the game will also feature new physics - even the camera angle of the car has changed - to allow players to "see more of the verticality of the city".

No details are released about the game's targeting system though, so we'll have to wait for that.

More details and the full set of scans after the jump!

For those who haven't booked a flight to Australia yet, then the people from Eminence Orchestra would like to remind you that you still have some time left to go ahead and do so. After all, one of the most popular video game orchestral performances is headed for Sydney and Melbourne in merely a week. That's right, in case you forgot, Eminence Symphony Orchestra's A Night in Fantasia 2007 - Symphonic Games Edition, will be making waves in the Land of the Koalas, via their proven musical talent as well as their skill in performing the music from video games that we know and love.

Set to make an appearance in Sydney on April 20 and 21, then in Melbourne on April 27, the 60-piece orchesrtra will be accompanied by a 30-piece choir and will be conducted by Philip Chu. Meanwhile, tunes that fans can look forward to will include classic video game themes from titles such as Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy XII, FF Tactics and the rest of the FF series, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Shadow of the Colossus, Tales of Legendia, Metal Gear Solid, WoW: The Burning Crusade, Super Mario Brothers and Legend of Zelda, to name just a few.

Those who want a seat for the show can either order their tickets online via TicketMaster, or those who will be seeing the Sydney performance can simply drop by the local Kinokuniya store.

Now, there's just one song request that I'd like to make... please, please, please play Radical Dreamers from Chrono Cross. Either that, or I'll be happy with whatever Chocobo theme that they put in there. So with the days ticking away until the performance begins, what song would you want to hear the Eminence folks play?

Courtesy of Major Nelson, we just got word that there are new additions to the Xbox Live Marketplace which you guys may be interested in.

First up, we have MumboJumbo's Luxor 2, which after having heard so much about it for a while now, is finally available for download. For 800 MS points (US$ 10), the full version of the popular puzzle game can be downloaded. With a file size that's only about 25.7MB, this should make a welcome addition to your collection of casual games.

Next, there's some Alien Hominid goodies which are up for grabs. For 150 MS Points (about US$ 1.87), you can download 100 new PDA levels for this The Behemoth-developed Invader Zim-esque adventure shoot-'em-up. After that, there are also two gamer picture packs with five gamer pics each. Each pack is available for 100 MS Points a pop (about US$ 1.25). Both picture packs feature characters from Alien Hominid, with one pack containing Pudding Boss, the Fat Kid, and Screaming FBI Agent.

Now someone PLEASE tell us they have a picture of the chicken from the logo that The Behemoth uses...

The last time that we heard anything about The IdolM@ster for the Xbox 360, it was off draining MS Points all over Japan. Now, it seems that it's draining every otaku's real-life wallet as well, and for concert tickets, no less! It's no joke, as last April 1, THE IDOLM@STER ALL STAR LIVE 2007 was staged at the Zepp in Tokyo. With each ticket costing ¥6000 each (about US$ 50), the standing-room-only event area was filled with fans of the Bandai Namco game and the voice actresses themselves.

The concert featured the voice actresses for each of the characters who are found in the Xbox 360 version of the game, who then obliged the audience with songs from the game, as well as several short voice drama skits.

So...if the Macross ladies Lynn Minmei and Sharon Apple announced a concert somewhere near you, would you shell out fifty bucks for it, too?

More photos from the concert, after the jump!

UPDATE: Going over YouTube, we found an uploaded Grand Theft Auto IV debut trailer, so for those guys who are having problems viewing the trailer through the link below, here it is, waiting for you to click on play and check it out.

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After having taunted and teased us for the longest time, the much-awaited trailer for the equally-much-awaited game Grand Theft Auto 4 is finally here! Bound to be released for both the Xbox 360and the PS3, to say that this upcoming game has piqued a lot of people's interest would be an underestimation.

If you guys can still recall, just about a week ago, viewers of the FX Channel were mystified to find a 30-minute advertisement which consisted of the symbol "IV" and a timer which was ticking away in a countdown. Of course, some folks were confused about the whole thing since they tuned in to see an informercial, but for those who have been initiated into the wonderful world of Rockstar Games, "IV" holds so much wonder and promise (promises of more GTA, that is...).

Well, a full week later, here it is! Be one of the first to see what Rockstar has been hiding from us until now, and click on the "Read" link below. It will take you straight to one of Rockstars websites which, until today, has had nothing on it except the same "IV" and timer that North American and Canadian TV viewers have seen on that fateful night.

Now, we won't spoil it for you, so see it for yourself and click that "Read" link now!