While this week's crop of new games doesn't really scream "Triple-A", it is noteworthy for having Patapon 2, the vanguard/forward scout for Sony's foray into digital distribution for the PlayStation Portable. Other picks this week include the release of the Wii version of Namco's PlayStation original, Klonoa. PC gamers also get a one-two-three punch from Crytek and EA with the compilation, CrysisCrysis: Maximum Edition. Read on for the rest of this week's video game releases.

Osaka-based publisher Capcom has released its financial report card for 2007's third fiscal quarter. While a lot of people expected a surge in correlation with the holiday rush, what we saw was a mixed bag at best. Devil May Cry 4 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC) and Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles enjoyed good sales, but other titles weren't so lucky. Full details after the jump.

Got Play-Asia on your browser tab? We'll be taking a quick look at a recent software sales chart Japan tabulated by the Media Create group. This latest list puts Kekkaishi: Karasumori Ayakashi Kidan for the DS at the top post, with second place taken by Bleach: Heat the Soul for the PSP. Third place goes to Shin Lucky Star Moe Drill (DS), the game version of the recently released Lucky Star anime, best known for its parody of modern pop culture (that includes video games and anime, FYI). Unfortunately, the anime hasn't been licensed for a US release

Other favorites included in the list are Revenant Wings, The Lion War, Gyakuten Saiban 4, and Ouendan 2. We also make special note of Forza Motorsport 2, which appears to be the lone Xbox 360 title in this top 30 (translated list courtesy of Kotaku):

1.  Kekkaishi: Karasumori Ayakashi Kidan (DS) - 40,741 / NEW
2. Bleach: Heat The Soul 4 (PSP) - 37,764 / NEW
3. Shin Lucky * Star Moe Drill: Tabidachi (DS) - 30,397 / NEW
4. Wii Sports (Wii) - 27,642 / 1,629,207
5. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion War (PSP) - 26,019 / 220,390
6. More Brain Age (DS) - 22,378 / 4,307,282
7. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - 21,472 / 4,480,257
8. Kurikin: Nano Island Story (DS) - 20,792 / NEW
9. More English Training (DS) - 19,375 / 237,206
10. Wii Play (Wii) - 18,477 / 1,336,284

Click on Full Article to view the rest of Media Create's top 30.

Included in the 200 candidates for Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People of the Year" is one of gaming's very own icons, Shigeru Miyamoto. His page in their poll for the list describes him as such:

AGE: 54
OCCUPATION: Game Designer for Nintendo game systems
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 0

PRO: Most successful game designer, creator of Super Mario, Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda, whose new platform, the Wii, is currently the top-selling game console.

CON: His perfectionist tendencies often result in games being significantly delayed and, despite the Wii's gameplay innovation, its graphics are far behind the competition.

Console preferences aside, if you're a gamer, you'll definitely agree that it's time that this guy gets recognized by Time. Sure we could all name a whole other game designers that have made games that rival his, and we all have our personal favorites but we can all agree that this guy has something iconic about him.

Given his influence, and the inspiration he's given to the gaming industry and to gamers in general, we here at QJ really wish that that "Number of Time Covers", and that "Previous Appearances on the Time 100" figure be more than zero. We feel that he deserves the inclusion.

As of  March 17, the UK Charts have seen some slight changes in game sales rankings. The mighty triumvirate of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Warfighter 2, Final Fantasy XII and Sonic and the Secret Rings remain unshaken in the top three spots. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 surges into the fourth spot as former spot owner The Sims 2: Seasons falls on the eighth spot. Crackdown is still the big enforcer at fifth place as Test Drive Unlimited, FIFA 07, Pro Evolution Soccer 6 and Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of Minus round up the top ten.

1 Tom Clansy's Ghost Recon Warfighter 2 
2 Final Fantasy XII 
3 Sonic and the Secret Rings 
4 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07        
5 Crackdown
6 Test Drive Unlimited 
7 FIFA 07    
8 The Sims 2: Seasons
9 Pro Evolution Soccer 6
10 Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of Minus
11 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS.    
12 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
13 The Sims 2: Pets
14 Call of Duty 2
15 Need For Speed Carbon
16 The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess
17 Spectrobes
18 Football Manager 2007  
19 WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007   
20 Gears of War   

We'll keep you posted for next week's charts.

A Goldeneye-less Virtual Console isn't looking good for dreamers out there. Among the best of the N64 games, Ocarina, Mario Kart, and Mario 64 have already been released, so why can't they take Goldeneye 007 over to the VC as well? Or if it's not on the VC... maybe somewhere else? Some have been constantly hoping, and the way it seems, seeing Bond and his spy-buddies online would be quite a "rare" sight.

As CVG reports, someone on the Q&A threads at Rare was able to squeeze out some info on bringing more of their titles online. What surprised us was a well-placed hint of something that could also come out on Xbox Live:

The only Rare-developed title on Virtual Console right now is the original Donkey Kong Country, and unofficially there's a strong likelihood that its sequels will follow... But the Donkey Kong series of games is a Nintendo-owned franchise... whereas something like Banjo isn't... so it's nowhere near as easy to call... Especially when you also consider the existence of Xbox Live Arcade. So right now, the best answer we can offer (for either download service) is 'it's possible'.

Speaking more specifically about Goldeneye 007 though, a representative of Rare did indicated that the game is "caught up in a convoluted web of rights" and that this "doesn't mean it won't happen, just that a lot of people with a lot of different perspectives are involved."

Looks like someone stamped a big, red CONFIDENTIAL mark on this whole issue and doesn't want to reveal the rest of the document. Just what is cooking in the Rare labs? The whole VC thing was a long-running rumor, but now an XBLA title?

Remember all those McDonald's outlets that display how many people they have served over the years? Now, imagine putting that sort of computing into videogames, and see who comes out on top. With that said, we bring you this Top 20 published by the UK-based "The Independent."

From what we see, Japan seems to hold in this list, with Mario, Pokemon, and Final Fantasy making it to the top three. Then again, it looks like all the top gaming mascots are here. We advise the fans out there to cross-reference this with anything else they may have read, for accuracy's sake. Enjoy poring over it.

The best-selling games franchises

1. Mario: 193 million
2. Pokémon: 155 million
3. Final Fantasy: 68 million
4. Madden NFL: 56 million
5. The Sims: 54 million
6. Grand Theft Auto': 50 million
7. Donkey Kong: 48 million (centre)
8. The Legend of Zelda: 47 million
9. Sonic the Hedgehog: 44 million
10. Gran Turismo: 44 million
11. Lineage: 43 million
12. Dragon Quest: 41 million
13. Crash Bandicoot: 34 million
14. Resident Evil: 31 million
15. James Bond: 30 million
16. Tomb Raider: 30 million
17. Mega Man: 26 million
18. Command & Conquer: 25 million
19. Street Fighter:25 million
20. Mortal Kombat:20 million

On a last note, we did find it mortifying that our personal faves like MGS did not make it.

UK-based video game developer RARE Ltd. piqued our interest by stating that they'll soon be unveiling a new Xbox 360 title for the upcoming X06 event. Rumors from insiders say that the new title will be shown either on the 27th or 28th of September - only about a couple of weeks away!

As of yet, RARE has not dropped any hints at all as to the game's title, so we can only guess for now if this will be an entirely new franchise or a sequel to one of their classics. Some of the possible (and wished-for) titles that come to mind are Banjo Threeie, Jet Force Gemini 2, Kameo 2, Killer Instinct, and Perfect Dark 3.

RARE first gained recognition with its Donkey Kong franchise in 1994, and was known to be Nintendo's primary support in game-productions, even when Nintendo's market share was at an all-time low. RARE is also remembered as the company behind the N64 classics Banjo Kazooie and Jet Force Gemini.